If you’ve been in a car accident, then you understand the shock and confusion that often follows and how it becomes difficult to think clearly.
In such situations, victims are often so unsettled by their experience that they make costly mistakes that would end up hurting them. Certain necessary steps must be taken after a collision to remedy the negligence of the other driver.
However, when one fails to take the appropriate steps, it could significantly impact your claim. In essence, your lawyer would have a hard time negotiating a settlement for the compensation you deserve. Here are a few pitfalls to avoid when filing a car accident claim.
Not contacting a car accident lawyer
A car accident lawyer in NJ would be indispensable to your case. Refusing not to retain the services of one soon after your accident, would greatly limit your ability to build a strong claim.
Hence, it is evident for you to learn more about how a car accident attorney can help fight your case and get you the compensation you deserve.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident in New Jersey, we recommend you put a call through to a lawyer as soon as is possible.
Failing to contact the police
This is one of the most common mistakes victims of car crashes make. More often than not, it results in a dispute as to whether or not an accident occurred. To avoid such an eventuality, contact the police immediately while you’re still at the scene of the crash.
Do well to obtain a copy of the police report. This would significantly substantiate your claim. The police report would also include the contact information of the driver and any witnesses. This along with the conclusions of the police officer would be useful in the long run.
Choosing not to obtain medical care
The importance of seeing a doctor after being in a car accident cannot be overemphasized. Of course, it may have been a minor collision and you may have come out of it without a scratch. Still, a visit to the doctor is in order.
You may have sustained some injuries that would not become apparent for days or weeks after. Choosing not to seek medical care could put you at great risk.
Also, your delay could bolster the claims of the insurance company that your injuries were caused by a different incident and not the car crash. Our advice? Take effective steps to get checked by a medical practitioner and be sure to follow up on the necessary treatment.
Forgetting to collect evidence
You never can tell what a few timely photographs would do to help substantiate your claim. Failing to preserve evidence at the scene of the crash can affect your claim negatively. Depending on how serious the collision was, you can take the pictures yourself or enlist the help of a bystander.
Record images or videos of the damage to the vehicles, your injuries, and the condition of the road. Still, on the subject of evidence collection, you should never forget to collect the contact information of the negligent driver. This should also include his or her insurance information.
Final word
If you’ve made any of the following mistakes, all hope is not lost. You can minimize the damage significantly once you click here and choose the best law firm. Contact a lawyer today to get started on receiving your due compensation.
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