If you or someone you know is hurt in a Las Vegas, Nevada, car accident, the steps taken or not taken in the moments, days, and months after the crash can have a significant impact on your ability to successfully pursue monetary compensation for harm suffered. In order to understand the pitfalls that many come across after being involved in a crash, below are four common mistakes that you should avoid:
Failing to Contact Emergency Services
Even if the accident seems minor, do not skip contacting authorities. Indeed, it is in the best interest of everyone to dial 9-1-1 so that first responders and police officers can immediately come to the accident scene. Contacting emergency services will not just create a record of the accident but also give you the ability to provide an official statement about what happened. Moreover, emergency medical responders can assess your injuries, provide you with the necessary medical care, and transport you to the nearest hospital if needed. Your doctor can determine the severity of your injuries, how they happened, and the proper treatment moving forward. With all of this information, a personal injury attorney can help build your case for compensation;
Trusting the Insurance Company
The at-fault driver’s car insurance company will likely contact you shortly after the accident. Be careful, as the insurance adjuster will be overly nice and ask questions related to the accident, but they are not your friend. In fact, insurance companies are in the business of increasing profits and not necessarily paying out for claims, even for the ones that are valid. Because the adjuster will use anything you say or put in writing against you in order to try to avoid payment, be sure to speak with an attorney before revealing any information.
Posting Anything on Social Media
While it is completely natural to want to reach out to family members or friends online after a car accident for support, it is best not to do so. Insurance adjusters will likely scour the internet, including your social media accounts, to find evidence that can be used against you or can be twisted to attack your credibility. Therefore, posts on social media should be avoided entirely pending a personal injury accident, and you should ask everyone you know to not tag you in anything, either. This includes photos, videos, comments, and locations.
Taking the First Settlement Offer
Even if the insurance carrier does not have enough evidence against you to flat out deny the claim, it will try to limit its expenses by significantly devaluing your valid claim. Simply put, the insurance company’s first offer will be well below what your claim is actually worth. Do not accept any offer without first ensuring that it will at least cover all of your damages. Otherwise, you can risk being left with out-of-pocket expenses because once you accept an offer, you cannot later change your mind.
Our Attorneys Can Help
While it is understandable to have hesitancy in retaining a personal injury attorney when you are involved in a Las Vegas, Nevada car accident due to fear of costs, know that these attorneys are typically paid on contingency, meaning they get nothing unless your funds are recuperated; victims pay no upfront costs. The skilled attorneys at H&P Law are here to help and will fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to schedule your initial case evaluation.
