There are approximately 27,000 car accidents a day that occur around the country. As with most car accidents the last thing on an individual’s mind when involved in an automobile accident is to protect their legal rights. Many injury cases are put in jeopardy because of mistakes made by the victims. Here are some common automobile accident mistakes to avoid, which will improve your chances of getting fair compensation for your injuries.
10 Automobile Accident Mistakes to Avoid
- Not Contacting the Police immediately: Even the smallest automobile accident can produce neck and back injuries days later. If you’ve been involved in a car accident, you should contact police and file an accident report as soon as it happens. This procedure assures you have documentation of the accident if a medical or property damage claim is ever filed. The police report is a 3rd party, non-biased documentation of the cause of the accident and in most cases, establishes blame. This report will also protect you from false claims made by the driver of the other vehicle.
- Getting Insurance Information: Even if you and the other party believe no real damage was done, you should still exchange insurance information. Often times, injuries will be felt several days later so it is always good to have the information of all parties involved in the accident. Insurance companies will need the following information of who was involved in the accident: Name of the drivers, legal address, contact number, insurance information, license number, license plate number, model and make of the vehicle, the date, place and time of the incident.
- Taking Pictures of the Accident: If you are physically capable, take pictures of the vehicles involved, the conditions under which the accident occurred and try and document as much of the accident scene as you can. This can go a long way in proving innocence and guilt. If vehicles have to be moved out of the roadway get pictures of the crash before you move your car. A video is also suggested if your smart phone is capable of taking one and describe your thought as to what happened while filming. This accounting of the accident can only help in supporting your claim.
- Calling Your Insurance Company: If there is property damage or injuries, report the accident to your own insurance company immediately. Failure to report an accident to your insurance company can inhibit your recovery if property damage or injuries were sustained in the accident.
- Putting off Medical Treatment: Under Florida law you have 14 days from the date the accident occurred to receive medical treatment for any injuries you might have sustained. If you or a passenger riding in your car are injured in an accident, get medical attention immediately. The most important thing for victims of an accident is to get treatment for their injures, no matter how small you think they might be. Even if you don’t experience any pain at first, have a licensed medical professional document and treat your injuries. This documentation is very valuable when seeking damages in a law suit.
- Putting your Insurance Company First: Never simply trust your insurance company. They are a for profit business and should be treated as someone who will protect their own interest before yours. Review your own insurance policy to see what exact coverage you have. If asked to make statements or sign any documents, have an experienced, qualified attorney review your case. There are no costs or fees for an attorney to give you legal advice about an accident you were involved in. Wood, Atter and Wolf have handled 1000’s of insurance claims and there is never a cost or fee unless they win money for you.
- Never Admit Guilt: If you discuss the accident with police, the other driver, or anyone at the scene, never make any statements about your guilt. Never automatically assume you are guilty of causing the accident. These statements will be documented and could be used against you if a legal action is filed.
- Pursuing the Claim Too Late: The State of Florida has a statute of limitation on all injury claims filed for damages sought. Important, if you are involved in an accident it should be up to your attorney to represent your interests, navigate the legal process and protect your legal rights.
- Unaware of Your Rights: When you get injured in an accident, the hiring of an attorney is an important matter that should be decided on by a few factors.
How long have the attorney’s been practicing?
What kind of law do they specialize in?
How many cases have they handled and what is their success rate?
Do they have a credible website that documents their experience and do they show any results or testimonials of clients they have handled?
The American Bar Association has stated that injured victims who hire an attorney get 3 times the case value, than those who do not seek legal representation. Non- represented victims might not know they can seek damages for medical bills, pain and suffering, loss of property and lost wages. Michael Atter and David Wolf are experienced personal injury trial lawyers who can help you get fair compensation for your injuries. - Call an Attorney Immediately: All attorneys are not created equal. The most important decision an injured victim can make is who will represent them. That decision should be based on the lawyer’s experience, knowledge, qualifications and results that the lawyer has demonstrated. At woodatter.com, we tell the complete story of our firm and the lawyers who make up our legal team. For over 50 years Wood, Atter and Wolf have been helping injured victims and their families.
Jacksonville Car Accident Lawyers
It is important to seek professional legal representation if you or a loved one has been injured in an accident due to someone else’s negligence. The Law Office of Wood, Atter & Wolf has been helping Jacksonville personal injury and car accident victims for over 50 years. Call us today for your free consultation (904) 355-8888.