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3 Mistakes Car Accident Victims Make

After being involved in a car accident, there are certain steps to take that are recommended for your personal injury claim. Attorney Charlie Contrada has explained each step that a car accident victim should take when filing a personal injury claim, explained in our blog post, Filing a Car Accident Claim.

Contrada & Associates feels that it is also very important to share the three most common mistakes that car accident victims make after being involved in an injury accident. By avoiding these mistakes, you can prevent putting your personal injury claim in jeopardy.

Early Mistakes in Car Accident Claims

Medical Attention:

The first mistake that people involved in car accidents make is not seeking medical attention right away. Visiting your doctor or a hospital following your car accident is not only important to your health, but also to your personal injury claim. Some car accident victims think that the pain and discomfort that they have following a car accident will go away after a few days, but then find out two weeks later that their pain has worsened. While waiting to see a doctor is somewhat of a common mistake, it can seriously jeopardize a personal injury claim. The insurance company will argue that the injuries sustained in the accident couldn’t be too serious if it takes the individual two weeks to seek medical attention.

Many individuals who are in top physical health are under the illusion that the symptoms of a car accident injury are akin to a sports injury. For example, the pain experienced after an intense weight-lifting workout that goes away after a couple of days.

Contrada & Associates’ advice: If you are injured in a car accident, seek medical attention immediately.

Recorded Statement:

It is not advised to give the other driver’s insurance company a recorded statement following a car accident. Some car accident victims make this mistake and then find that their words have been used against them later in the legal process. Oftentimes recorded statements are misused by insurance companies to somehow blame you of causing part of the accident. Generally when statements are misues, we have to file a lawsuit to sort it out. You will have to give your own insurance company a statement regarding the accident, or they can have grounds for denying coverage.

Contrada & Associates’ advice: Never give a statement to the other driver’s insurance company and consult your personal injury lawyer before giving a statement to your own insurance company.

Collect Contact Information:

In the hectic aftermath of a car accident, some people may forget to get the contact information of the other driver involved. It is helpful to obtain the other driver’s full name, address and phone number. The most important information to get is the other person’s insurance company name.

In many cases because of injuries, you are physically or mentally unable to obtain this information. In many jurisdictions, the police no longer share information about the other driver. So, if you are unable to get the information yourself, you may not be able to find out who caused your accident or what insurance company they have until you are able to receive a copy of the police report.

If there are witnesses to the accident, it can also help your claim to obtain their information so your personal injury lawyer can contact them.

Contrada & Associates’ advice: Keep a small booklet and pen in your glove box with the list of all information that you must obtain if involved in an accident so you don’t forget to collect something. Ask to see their insurance information, which by law should be kept in their vehicle.

Car Accident Lawyer

One of the best things that you can do after being involved in an accident is to contact a personal injury lawyer. There are several legal matters that can be addressed immediately following the accident, so having the guidance of an experienced lawyer is very important.

To ask a personal injury lawyer at Contrada & Associates about your car accident, call 419.841.4400. You can discuss your accident over the phone or come into the office for a meeting with attorney Charlie Contrada. Our office believes in offering clients the personalized service that they deserve, helping them to fully understand their legal options and the car accident settlement process.

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Attorney Charlie Contrada has been practicing law since 1979, focusing his career on personal injury, car accident, and mesothelioma cases. Over the years, Charlie has helped thousands of clients throughout Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan to receive the settlements that they deserve.

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