In my 20-plus years as a Philadelphia Accident Attorney, these are the top ways the not-at-fault party has hurt their own case and minimized their ability to receive a fair settlement.
Lie to the Insurance Company
Perhaps the best evidence at a victim’s disposal is his or her word about what happened. If he or she lies at any point during the process, the insurance company will have a very strong argument that the claims are unwarranted.
Forget to Take Pictures of the Scene
Without any photographic evidence of the crash, the at-fault party’s insurance could be successful in their attempts to minimize the amount of damage done to the vehicle(s) involved. And while there is absolutely no relationship between vehicle damage and occupant injury, insurers have claimed in the past that minor vehicle damage proves the occupants could not be hurt seriously.
Avoid Doing the Little Things
Too often, I have seen clients forget to keep track of medical bills, leave requests from work, and even receipts from drug stores for pain medication. These clients did not realize that even though the amount on the receipt was small, these little things help build the overall case that pain from the accident affected them in significant ways.
Delay the Doctor Visit
By the time some victims have gone to the doctor, their injuries have healed or they have had a different accident that makes it impossible to relate the injuries to the car accident.
Chat Up the Insurance Adjuster
No matter how nice or concerned he or she may seem, the adjuster is a representative for the company that is trying to minimize the payout. Every word the victim says has maximum importance, and off-the-cuff remarks like I’m fine, or Well, it’s all hazy now, have hurt the injury claim many times in the past.
Post Details to Social Media Sites
More and more adjusters and insurance company representatives are searching social media sites of all kinds looking for information that will help them in either not paying a claim or getting it reduced. In some extreme cases, even the simple act of posting a harmless message can be used against a victim because it shows he or she was well enough to do so.
Blindly Signing Documents
It is the easiest thing to do when faced with a pile of paperwork, but blindly signing documents without reading the fine print is a proven way for victims to waive their rights or claims without even knowing.
Summary
This is why it is vital to involve a personal injury lawyer early in the claims process. For Philadelphia car accident victims, we know the right doctors to see, the right documents to track, the right things to say to the insurance company, and the right way to document evidence. By hiring an experienced car accident lawyer, you will have the peace of mind that the legal and monetary aspects of the accident will be handled correctly, which allows you to focus on yourself, your family, and your recovery.
Our promise is to deliver outstanding customer service and our motto is: More Service than You Would Expect.
– Joe Mitchell: Harvard Educated, Street Smart. Philadelphia Accident Attorney
