Everything you do after your car accident can affect your potential personal injury lawsuit. Most people don’t realize how crucial the days, weeks, and months following an accident actually are to a case.
The record will reflect any and all facts from the moments, sometime even hours, leading up to the collision until the resolution of the case. However, the record can only reflect what can be proven in court. This means it’s not always about what happened, it’s about what you can prove happened.
After a car accident, you must take the following steps to preserve information important for your personal injury lawsuit:
1. Go to the emergency room. It is important to seek medical treatment immediately following a car accident. Injuries need to be documented right away to prevent any arguments from insurance companies about causation later on. Having a complete record and diagnosis will make your case more successful. Furthermore, it is important for your own well-being to be examined after your accident, so that you may receive proper treatment going forward.
2. Get follow-up treatment. One thing most people don’t realize is that the emergency room will not provide you with a conclusive diagnosis or treatment plan. Generally, emergency room staff will treat you until you are stable and then send you home with instructions to seek follow-up care. Follow those instructions. It is essential for your case that you follow all medical instructions and receive adequate treatment for your injuries.
3. Call an experienced lawyer. Once you have taken care of yourself physically, the next step is to talk to a lawyer. There are many things you need to do to preserve your rights early on in your case, so communicating with a lawyer, who understands the process early on, will significantly help your chance of recovery.
4. Don’t talk to insurance companies. Right after your accident, the at-fault driver’s insurance company will contact you. They will try to get you to sign off on a settlement. Don’t talk to the insurance company, and don’t sign anything. Once you have agreed on a settlement and essentially signed away your rights, there isn’t much I can do to help, so don’t make that mistake. Call me right away at 1 (800) 556-4769.
5. Always be consistent. Even if you are a plaintiff in a lawsuit, it still feels like you are the one on trial. Everything you say and do matters. It is important to always be consistent when your discussing anything related to your case. Whether you are talking about your medical history, your resulting injuries, or facts leading up to the accident, be clear and consistent in what you say and what you communicate to your lawyer.
The only way to truly protect your rights is to talk to a personal injury lawyer right away.
It is important to have a lawyer who has the experience and resources necessary to take on the insurance companies. If you or a loved one was involved in a car accident, you have to call me right away 1 (800) 556-4769. I can help you get the compensation you deserve.
As your Ohio car accident lawyer, I’ll be there for you, and I’ll Make Them Pay!®
Author: Tim Misny | For 33 years, personal injury lawyer Tim Misny has represented the injured victim in birth injury, medical malpractice, and catastrophic injury/wrongful death cases, serving “Cleveland, Akron/Canton, Columbus & Cincinnati, Ohio.” You can reach Tim by email at tmisny@misnylaw.com or call at 1 (800) 556-4769.
