Three Little-Known Considerations When Dealing With Accident Aftermaths
After a car accident, you just want things to get back to normal. You want your car fixed, your injuries healed, any property damage mended, and your schedule back to normal. That's understandable. And if the accident is such that any of those may take a while to return to normal, you're going to do whatever you can to speed it up. However, by doing that, you could inadvertently make it harder to get compensation, especially if you have to take your case to court.
Your Doctor Might Not Be Acceptable
After the accident, if you need medical attention, go get it, and remember to get copies of the records from the appointments. But don't be surprised if your insurance company tells you to see another doctor. Depending on your policy, you might not be able to use your doctor's records. However, that does not mean that you should avoid your doctor if you need care and can't reach your insurance agent to get names of acceptable doctors. Get the care you need -- if you don't, the other insurance company could accuse you of making your health problems worse by not seeking care. Then talk to a lawyer about how to get your doctor's records made official for the case.
Even the Mildest Social Media Comment Can Be Used Against You
It's pretty well-known by now that insurance companies and lawyers troll social media accounts to see if they can catch someone in a lie. For example, someone claiming that they have massive pain as a result of a car accident who posts a picture of them dancing after the accident, when they were supposedly incapacitated by pain, may get called out as a fraud. But even if you're not lying, your words could be misinterpreted. Maybe you sound way too happy on social media when in person you're claiming to be undergoing psychological trauma. Or maybe you posted that you were in an accident and felt generally fine; that could make lawyers take notice if you then claimed to insurance companies that you weren't fine.
Being Fine Now Doesn't Mean You'll Be Fine Later On
And speaking of being fine, you may feel fine in the first couple of days after the accident, but later, you could feel awful. Take it easy during those first few days so that you don't accidentally aggravate anything. Assume your body has some hidden issues that need quiet time for healing. And then, even if you've been careful, you could still experience a surge of issues. Document them all and see a doctor.
Even if your insurance company and the other party seem to be cooperating, it never hurts to speak with a car accident lawyer just to be sure that you'll be fully supported in your recovery. Keep all your bases covered to ensure that you don't accidentally make your case more difficult.
