5 Mistakes That Could Hurt Your Car Accident Settlement
Insurance companies are always looking for easy ways to pay less than what you deserve. One small mistake could be enough to reduce the final value of your settlement. If you’ve recently been in a car accident, it’s essential to understand which missteps can hurt your case before realizing it. Avoiding them helps you protect your final settlement and receive the compensation you deserve.
1. Not Seeking Medical Attention Right Away
Delaying medical treatment weakens the link between injuries and the accident. It gives insurance companies a reason to doubt your claim and downplay your injuries. They may even argue that your injuries aren’t even connected to the crash in the first place.
Avoid this issue by calling emergency services as soon as you know you’re safe. They can evaluate your injuries early and determine what type of ongoing care you’ll need. Any paperwork they gave can also be used as key evidence in your case.
2. Giving A Statement to the Insurer
No matter how “nice” an insurer might seem, they’re not your friend. They’re trained to investigate claimants and find anything they can to minimize payouts. Even innocent comments during your conversation with them could be enough for them to dispute your claim and minimize payouts.
Remember, you don’t need to give a recorded statement to the other insurer after the accident. In fact, most lawyers would advise against it. Keep any communication brief, or have an attorney handle it on your behalf.
3. Posting About the Accident on Social Media
Posting on social media could be a huge mistake. Insurance adjusters look through social media profiles to spot anything suspicious. Any photos or videos you post related to the accident could be taken out of context if you’re not careful.
To avoid any issues, tell your loved ones privately about what happened. Also, set your profile to private and avoid accepting requests from anyone you don’t know. This way, you limit what insurance companies see and limit the evidence they can use against you.
4. Accepting a Settlement Offer Too Quickly
Initial offers tend to be much lower than what they should be. Calculating the exact settlement amount takes time, and you’ll often need a lawyer to review your case and negotiate a fair settlement. Accepting anything else could leave thousands of dollars on the table and prevent you from recovering further expenses later.
5. Not Documenting the Accident Properly
The last thing you want to do is file a claim with incomplete evidence. The more gaps you leave open, the easier it’ll be for the insurer to dispute your claim and minimize your final payout. Always provide photos, witness statements, medical records, or anything else that’s relevant to your case.
How Our Lawyers Can Help
A car accident is a delicate situation that leaves many victims with lifelong damage they might never recover from. For this reason, never give insurance companies a reason to give you less than what you’re entitled to. If you’ve recently been involved in a car accident and need further guidance, our Long Island accident lawyers are here to help. Please contact us at (866) 839-5886 to schedule a free consultation today.