Accidents are scary. Your heart races and adrenaline flows. If you are injured, you are in physical pain and unsure about what will happen next. At Springer & Lyle, we have some advice about avoiding doing or saying things that may affect your personal injury case.
1) Admitting the accident was your fault. You may apologize for the damage that is apparent right after the accident, which is tantamount to an admission of fault. You should not do this before an investigation even if you sincerely believe it was your fault. You may think you caused the accident by pulling out in front of another vehicle only to discover during the investigation that the other driver had just run a red light and that is why he or she ran into you.
2) Failing to seek medical treatment. You need to see a doctor and get checked out. But that is not enough. You must follow all recommendations for treatment. Schedule follow-up visits since some soft-tissue injuries show up a few days after an accident.
3) Failing to call the police to make an accident report. Texas law requires you to report a car accident to the police if:
- There was physical damage of more than $1,000 or the car cannot be driven away from the scene.
- Anyone was injured.
- Anyone was killed.
If you fail to call the police to make a report, the defense may later use this as evidence that no one was hurt.
4) Speaking to an insurance adjuster without the presence of an attorney. Shortly after your accident, you will likely be contacted by the insurance adjuster for the person you claim was at fault for the accident. Insurance adjusters are generally nice people who appear to be your friend and want to “help” you. They often offer you some money to compensate you. Additionally, anything you say is probably being recorded and can be used against you. It’s better to have the aid of an attorney when you are being interviewed.Remember. Adjusters work for the insurance company and their job is to save their boss money. This means paying you as little as possible. If you agree to accept funds, they will ask you to sign a release. If you sign, you will never again be able to ask for compensation for your injuries no matter how your expenses escalate in the future.
5) Failing to timely contact a personal injury attorney. Personal injury attorneys know how to investigate your case to determine who was at fault and if you were partially at fault. They know how to talk to adjusters, how to evaluate your injuries, and what a reasonable settlement would be based on all the circumstances. They also know the best time to speak with adjusters for the other driver’s company.
Contact Springer & Lyle for Assistance
The personal injury attorneys at Springer & Lyle can help you collect the reasonable compensation you are entitled for your injuries, lost wages, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other physical damage. Contact us at 940.387.0404 for a free consultation.
