When faced with an auto accident, the stress and unease over the whole thing can cause you to make bad decisions. This can lead you to lose out on compensation or be forced to pay for a settlement should the situation escalate into a legal dispute.
This fear can cause you to be more open to accepting a settlement offer that would normally be too low for other people, or to be overly trusting of your insurance company. It’s important to be prepared to defend yourself in the eyes of the law after a car crash. To do that, here are three mistakes you should avoid in any auto accident settlement or dispute.
Thinking That The Insurance Company Is Your Friend
We get it—you’ve invested in your auto insurance policy for years and think that it’s only right for you to be fully compensated for your damages. While this may be true, your car insurance company will not necessarily think the same way. The sad truth is that your car insurance company will likely try their hardest to make sure you get the least compensation in the shortest amount of time. They don’t want to deal with your case for a long period, and they definitely don’t want to take this to court.
Knowing that, watch out for any shady “one-time-only” deals with your car insurance company. This can take form in offers that seem questionable or are lower than what you’re actually owed. Your first offer will likely be the smallest amount they’d want to offer you, and you should never accept it unless your auto accident attorney advises you to do so.
Accepting Offers At The Scene Of The Accident
Never accept offers made to you at the scene of the accident. While tensions are high and you’re likely extremely stressed and want to get things over with, you need ample time to think offers through. It doesn’t matter if those are from your car insurance company, the involved drivers and their lawyers, or someone else who wants to get a quick settlement out of you. You need to discuss them with your auto accident attorney before making any considerations on settling.
Not Hiring A Reliable Auto Accident Attorney
Auto accident settlements are messy, confusing, and at times intimidating for the average working American. Facing a settlement case on your own can lead to agreeing on offers that are not anywhere close to the amount you deserve. Remember: you should be compensated in full for your car damages, medical treatments, checkups, and time.
Because of this, no one should ever have to represent themselves when settling for something as crucial as car accident damages. Such life-changing decisions need to be taken with utmost carefulness and professionalism, and you need a lawyer to do exactly that. Hire an auto accident lawyer from an esteemed and trusted law firm, and you’ll be well on your way to getting the best settlement offer for your case.
As long as you prepare by making detailed records of the events surrounding the accident and avoid compromising yourself through careless statements, you can defend yourself legally. Do not let the other parties involved try and intimidate you or coerce you into a disadvantageous agreement.
Above all else, getting reliable legal representation should be your top priority. Justice Pays is a personal injury law firm whose goal is to get clients justice for their injuries. Contact Justice Pays today to learn more.