6 common mistakes to avoid after a car accident
Car Accident - July 27, 2023 by Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates
You have been in a car accident. You are frazzled and overwhelmed even days later. You do not want to complicate matters. In these situations, there is a lot on the line. You will want to check out these mistakes to avoid after a car accident.
One of the first mistakes to avoid is believing you have to manage this process on your own. Instead, contact Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates to allow our team to guide you. If you have a question, call us now.
Don’t make these 6 mistakes
As trusted Chicago car accident attorneys with nearly 100 years in the business, we recognize that you are facing an uphill battle. That is why we want to inform you of the most common mistakes we see in these types of cases when someone else is to blame for your losses.
1. Don’t assume the insurance adjuster is really that nice
To be frank, insurance is going to do and say all they can to sway you into settling your claim for less than what you are owed. Do not fall for this mistake. When possible, avoid speaking to the insurance company in the first place. Allow your legal team to handle all conversations for you instead. No matter how supportive they seem, they may not be telling you everything you need to know.
2. Don’t wait to take action
After a car accident, call the police and go to the hospital. Even if you feel okay and think you can just settle this outside of court, do not do this. Instead, call the police to document the incident and fill out a police report. You also want to ensure you follow your doctor’s recommendations for ongoing care and support.
3. Don’t apologize or admit fault
In your conversations with anyone after a car accident, do not make a statement that seems to imply you were at fault in any way. “I am so sorry this happened!” “I did not see you.”
Even if you are not to blame for the incident, statements like this can be turned around and used against you later. That costs you money. If you need to provide a witness statement to the police or anyone else, only provide the facts. This is where you were, this is what you did, and this is what happened.
4. Don’t accept a fast initial payment
The insurance company has a second strategy to reduce what they pay out, and that is to speed up payment in the hopes that you will settle fast and for less than what they could owe. If they send you a check right away or offer a settlement within a matter of days, chances are good they are settling for less than what they owe – even if they say they are just trying to help you.
5. Don’t post about the accident on social media
Putting photos of the accident, yourself, or anything else on social media after a car accident puts you at risk immediately. Social media posts, whether photos or information you write out, can be used as evidence against you in a court of law.
For example, if a week after the accident, you attend your friend’s wedding and are all dressed up and looking fabulous, the insurance company may use those photos to indicate that you are fine and capable of engaging with life. That can happen even if you have a cast and are suffering significant pain.
6. Don’t forget to continue your medical care
Another common mistake many people make is not continuing with their follow-up medical appointments. You may feel okay, and you may not think you should go in as a result. That could be a mistake. The insurance company may see this as an admission that you are healed and no longer suffering.
Avoiding most of these mistakes is simple
As you take into consideration what you are up against, you can avoid all of these mistakes by contacting a personal injury attorney to represent you. When you work with our team at Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates, we can help minimize risks to your case. Your attorney can:
- Gather all data to support your case and claim
- Provide insight to you into what you should and should not do after such an incident
- Give you hands-on guidance in answering questions from insurance adjusters
- Do all of the talking and dealing with the insurance adjuster for you
- Help you to pursue comprehensive compensation without the risk of settling too soon
These mistakes to avoid after a car accident are just the starting point. Let our legal team help you. Set up a free consultation with our Chicago car accident attorney now by calling (800) 985-1819 now. Our legal team is committed to working with you through this process. Even if you think you may have made a few of these mistakes, we can still help you through the legal process.
