When someone is involved in a Las Vegas car accident, the steps that you take after the crash are just as important as the ones that you fail to take. What is more, the days and weeks after a collision are critical when it comes to the actions you take. Your actions can determine whether or not you will receive monetary compensation, or how much you can be awarded, for injuries suffered when you pursue a personal injury claim. While some car accident cases can be complicated while others are more simple, there are general mistakes that people make—no matter the seriousness of the crash. While you cannot predict when you will get into a car accident, you can take control of your actions and learn to avoid these pitfalls if you are in a crash.
Mistakes to Avoid
Getting into an accident can be scary. What is more, trying to make decisions can be difficult under the circumstances. While you may not know everything that you should do after a Nevada car crash, below are some actions you shoudl avoid:
- Failing to call 9-1-1. The first major mistake is to not call law enforcement after a crash. This should be done even when the accident is minor because it is in the best interest of all involved to get emergency assistance. Contacting 9-1-1 will record and document the crash and give the parties—and any witnesses—the opportunity to provide a statement to the police about what happened. Moreover, 9-1-1 will also dispatch first responders, who can provide medical treatment to anyone who is hurt and assess their injuries.
- Speaking directly with the insurance company. It is not uncommon for the other driver’s car insurance company to try to contact the parties involved in the accident in the days following the crash. When an insurance representative does so, he or she will try to get information to later be used against you. Even if you have a valid claim, an insurance adjuster will try to disprove or discredit your claim by using your statements. Do not give a recorded or written statement to the insurance company.
- Taking the first offer. In most cases, an auto insurance company will devalue your claim and initially offer you less than what it is worth to settle the matter. Insurance companies offer low-ball settlements even when the evidence does not support their position. If you accept the first offer, you will likely be left with lost wages and out-of-pocket expenses once the settlement runs out;
- Overposting on social media. Because social media has become part of our everyday lives, it is natural and even instinctual to want to share after a car accident. Remember, however, that insurance adjusters mine through social medial accounts looking for evidence to be used against an accident victim. Always consider how your post can be perceived by the opposing party and/or its insurance carrier and how it can negatively impact you.
Avoiding the above situations can help give you a better chance at successfully seeking monetary compensation for harm suffered in a Las Vegas car accident.
Hire Our Attorneys
While accident victims may be weary of hiring a personal injury attorney after being in a crash due to affordability, it is important to know that these attorneys work on a contingency-fee basis. Simply put, you do not pay upfront but rather the attorney collects a fee once you are paid. The skilled lawyers at H&P Law have years of experience protecting the rights of the injured in Las Vegas and across the state of Nevada.
