2 Mistakes To Avoid After Suffering An Injury During An Auto Accident

If you were recently involved in an auto accident in which you were injured, you may feel lost trying to navigate through dealing with your and the other party's insurance companies. While doing so, make sure you avoid making the following mistakes after suffering an injury in an auto accident for which you were not at fault

Waiting to File Your Insurance Claim

After you have been seriously injured, you probably only want to think about getting better and not about dealing with the insurance companies. You may feel as though you have plenty of time once you get out of the hospital and start recuperating. 

However, waiting to file your insurance claim could prove detrimental to your case. Especially if you plan to seek a settlement for your injuries, you want to file your claim as soon as possible after the accident. This not only shows the severity of your condition, but it can also reduce any delays in having your medical bills and lost wages paid.

Giving the Insurance Company a Recorded Statement

The day of the accident or the next, you may have insurance adjusters from both your and the other person's policyholders contact you for a recorded statement about your accident. They may even say this is routine and try to entice you into giving your final description of the accident right away.

If this happens, decline giving them the statement, stating that you need to contact an attorney first. If you give a recorded statement without the guidance of a lawyer, you may hurt your claim in the long run. Because the injury just occurred, your details may be fuzzy so you cannot give an accurate description.

When you try to file the claim and proceed with the settlement, this recorded statement could be used against you. This is especially true if you were still under the influence of pain medication when giving it and were unable to give an accurate description. 

Instead, seek guidance for your attorney before you give any statement. Doing this also gives you time to recall any details of the accident that may not have been clear immediately afterward. Once you are able to give a full description, your attorney can then direct you on how to proceed.

Avoiding the above mistakes can help you later on when you and your lawyer are trying to get your doctors' bills paid and possibly win a settlement for your injuries and lost wages. For further guidance, speak with an auto injury attorney, such as Gary L Baker Attorney at Law, who can guide you through the process of filing and settling your injury claim, as well as take away some of the legal burdens while you are trying to heal.