How to Win an Auto Accident Case
Automobile collisions can be expensive and harmful. Often they leave their victims with some sort of major financial impact. Unfortunately, many more result in some sort of bodily harm. In either case, wherever damage exists there is an at-fault party. For automobile accidents, finding the at-fault party is not so cut and dry. The issue gets even more clouded when the accident results in an injury. Determining the exact cost of an injury can be difficult. But, it can be even more difficult to get the financial compensation you deserve. Winning your auto accident case is not easy, but it can be done. Insurance companies will go to great lengths to minimize your injury claim and avoid a payout. If you ever find yourself involved in an automobile accident case, here are a few tips on how you might win.
Document the Accident
After any collision in which you were a victim, document the incident as soon as possible. At the scene of the accident, contact the authorities to help secure the scene and make sure everyone is safe. Contact your insurance company as soon as possible to file a claim. If you do not properly document the accident, you leave yourself open to accusations of trying to hide something. Never, under any circumstances, allow the other party to convince you to not report the accident, as it leaves you open to all sorts of financial liabilities. To get the payment you deserve, always document. Additionally, document everything that the accident affects including repair costs, missed time from work, car rentals and hospital bills. Having a clear record of the financial impact of the accident will help ensure that you receive the settlement you need. No matter how trivial it may seem, record every way that the accident has impacted your life. Regarding the accident itself, write down as much information you can recall as soon as possible, including the chain of events that led up to the accident, and what happened immediately after. Keeping a clear record of the event will keep you from muddling the details in the ensuing chaos accidents can cause. Record how long it took emergency services to respond and how soon you felt bodily harm from the accident. Injuries do not always present themselves right away, but that does not mean the accident is not the cause.
Consult a Healthcare Professional
No matter how small any bodily harm may seem, always consult a physician as soon as the symptoms manifest. The sooner you can correlate the bodily harm with the accident, the sooner you can strengthen your case. Not only does it bode well for your case, it helps ensure your physical well being. Waiting to receive medical care could be bad for your health and your case. The more time that passes between the accident and your doctor’s visit means more variables and makes correlating the accident and your injuries difficult. Follow all advice from your doctor and go through all the necessary checkups. Avoiding a doctor’s visit because of the perceived inconvenience is a huge mistake.
Retain an Effective Attorney
Having the right attorney in your corner gives you the best chances of winning your case. Retain an attorney as soon as it appears necessary so that they can begin work on your case right away. An attorney is necessary for the event of injury or when the insurance companies start making things difficult. Look online for reviews and ask people you trust who have retained a personal injury attorney in the past. Make sure that your attorney understands your goals so that he or she can work to achieve the result you need.The quality of your attorney directly coincides with the outcome of your case. If you have a strong case do not be afraid to look for the best attorney possible.
Follow Your Attorney’s Advice
It is highly likely that most attorneys have more experience with personal injuries than you. Following all the advice given by your attorney will best ensure that the case goes in your favor. The right attorney aligns themselves with your goals and will work tirelessly to achieve them. Accidents induce stress and stress can cloud your judgment. Listen to your attorney. Remember that your attorney works with your interests in mind. Undermining your attorney’s judgment can undermine your case. If you do not understand something, discuss it with your attorney so you can have a better grasp of the subject.
Collect Evidence
In any legal proceeding, you need to make sure that you have yourself covered. For an automobile accident case, that means making sure you collect all evidence pointing toward your innocence. That may mean eyewitness testimony, camera footage or any other kind of direct corroboration. Having some sort of hard evidence that can back up your side of the story goes a long way toward winning your case.Other evidence you should collect includes all information pertaining to your vehicle’s operating status. Service records indicating routine maintenance will help prove that you are a responsible car owner. You want to prove that the accident occurred through no fault of your own.In addition to your vehicle’s health, document how the accident impacted your own physical and mental health. Produce documentation that proves the accident caused bodily harm. This includes new injuries from the accident as well as injuries aggravated or exacerbated by the collision. Make sure you have all of your health reports ready by contacting your doctor. If possible, retain an account from first responders if they assisted in any way. If you and your doctors expect continued medical care as a result of the accident, try to estimate the cost of care. Consult with your physician to best come to this amount. Your financial compensation should include all medical care resulting from the accident, no matter how long after the accident care is administered. No matter how trivial any piece of information may seem, gathering it for presentation goes a long way. The absence of any information that could pertain to your case in even the slightest way may leave room for the opposing party to cast doubt on your innocence, which may decrease your compensation.
Remain Courteous
During times of stress, it gets hard to keep your cool. But, to ensure your complete financial compensation, remain courteous to the opposing party at all times during the proceedings, including at the scene of the accident. Do not berate the opposing party or any of the first responders. Keeping a cool head at all times demonstrates your professionalism and shows that your emotions do not impact your testimony. You want to be fueled by facts and justice, not anything vindictive.Do not contact the opposing party yourself. All dealings with the other party after the accident should be conducted by your attorney. Handling the affair yourself could result in anything you saying or allude to being used against you. Your attorney is professionally trained to deal with the opposing party in a way that will not hinder your case.
Do Not Discuss
Under no circumstance should you make any public statements regarding the incident without the expressed consent of your attorney. This includes social media posts. Like a criminal proceeding, anything you say could be twisted around to impede your case. Any unintentional misstatements of the facts could throw your entire case out the window. Discuss the case only with your attorney and the people you know you can trust. Of course, discuss any pertinent information with your healthcare provider to ensure they administer the proper care. Other than that, keep a close circle. Like a bad game of telephone, what you say could be passed around and misconstrued.
The Right Attorney for an Auto Accident Case
If you are in the Cleveland area and need a personal injury attorney, contact the Sandel Law Firm today. We specialize in personal injury matters, from car accidents to dog bites. With offices in Cleveland and Akron, we can be there for you when you need us most.Call us today, toll free, at (844)-763-5529 for a free consultation. We will work with you every step of the way to ensure the protection of your rights. Big insurance companies never intimidate us. No matter how dire, we will hear your side of the story and give you honest advice. Contact Sandel Law Firm for an attorney who gets results.