The majority of people who are involved in any type of accident aren't sure what it is that they should be doing. They are stuck trying to figure out how to make sense of everything and get the compensation they deserve in the first place. However, there are certain things that could end up jeopardizing your claim and costing you more money than it should. Here are three mistakes that you want to avoid making at all costs.
Not documenting your injuries and the nature of the accident.
Regardless of how minor your injuries might be, you need to document everything you can think of about the accident. The date of the incident, time of day, how the accident happened, the injuries sustained, medical diagnosis and so on. The more information you can have written down, the better it is going to be for you in the end. The quicker you can write the notes down, the more likely you are to remember all of the intricate details of the incident. Also document how you feel. Include any pain, stress, anxiety, discomfort or other problems stemming from the accident.
Forgetting to photograph your injuries and the accident scene.
One of the biggest things people often overlook is the importance of documenting their injuries and the accident scene via photograph. Take as many pictures of your vehicle as you can. Show all of the dents, dings and so on from where it was hit. Take pictures of your injuries as quickly as possible after the accident occurred. You want to show the judge what the accident did and how it impacted your life. Also try to take pictures of the accident scene if at all possible. This will save you a lot of hassles later on in trying to explain everything to the judge.
Signing the first settlement offer you receive.
Unfortunately, many people are strapped for cash after an accident. Because of this, they are quick to jump on a settlement offer from the insurance company. Whatever you do, don't sign the first one that comes along. You need to wait and see just how severe your injuries are and how long it is going to take you to recover. This is especially important when you are out of work and dealing with a lot of pain.
By not making one of the mistakes above, you can save yourself a lot of hassles and headaches down the road in getting the insurance settlement you deserve. Contact a personal injury law firm like Bishop Dorfman Kroupa & Bishop PC if you have any questions.
