5 Costly Mistakes to Avoid After a Car Accident in Pennsylvania
You were injured in a car accident. It’s unfortunate, but it happened, and now you need to deal with the consequences. If someone else was at fault in the accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation beyond your “no-fault” insurance coverage, but you will need to avoid some costly mistakes to ensure that you are able to recover the full compensation you deserve.
Whether you were injured in an accident in Allentown, Bethlehem, Doylestown, Easton or Stroudsburg, our knowledgeable Pennsylvania car accident attorney discusses five mistakes you need to avoid in order to protect your legal rights.
Mistake #1: Posting on Social Media
Today, many people’s first instinct after a major life event is to post about the event on social media. But, while you may want to let your friends and followers know what happened, you need to resist the temptation to post about your car accident. There are several reasons why, and insurance companies are increasingly using accident victims’ own social media posts against them.
Mistake #2: Making Assumptions
When you are involved in a car accident, there is a lot you won’t know right away. For example, you won’t know exactly what caused the accident, and you won’t know the extent of your medical treatment needs.
With this in mind, you need to be careful to avoid making assumptions—especially when talking to your insurance adjuster. For example, under no circumstances should you assume that (i) you were partially at fault in the accident, (ii) your injuries aren’t serious, or (iii) you won’t be able to recover full compensation for your accident-related losses.
Mistake #3: Listening to Your Insurance Adjuster
Speaking of your insurance adjuster, you need to avoid falling into the common trap of letting your adjuster talk you into making bad decisions. Always remember that your adjuster works for the insurance company, not for you. If your adjuster asks you repeatedly who was at fault in the accident, don’t give in. If your adjuster says you should sign a medical release form or accept a settlement check, talk to a lawyer before you make an irreversible decision.
Mistake #4: Ignoring Your Medical Needs
From seeking a diagnosis promptly to prioritizing your recovery, you need to take care of your medical needs. If you ignore your medical needs, this is also something that the insurance companies can use against you.
Mistake #5: Trying to Handle Your Situation on Your Own
Given the risks involved in dealing with the insurance companies, you should not try to handle your situation on your own. Instead, you should hire an experienced lawyer to represent you. In addition to dealing with your adjuster on your behalf, your Pennsylvania car accident lawyer can investigate to determine liability, work with experts to calculate your accident-related losses, and use his or her experience to help maximize your financial compensation.
Get Free Legal Advice from a Pennsylvania Car Accident Lawyer at Drake, Hileman & Davis, PC
If you have been injured in a car accident in Allentown, Bethlehem, Doylestown, Easton or Stroudsburg, we encourage you to contact us for more information. To arrange a free initial consultation with a Pennsylvania car accident lawyer at Drake, Hileman & Davis, PC as soon as possible, call 888-777-7098 or tell us how we can reach you online now.