Avoid These Common Mistakes After a Virginia Car Crash

Mistakes That Can Hurt Your Car Accident Claim

If you aren’t familiar with the inner workings of insurance carriers and court proceedings, it’s all-too-easy to accidentally hurt yourself by making any of these six mistakes:

Not seeking medical attention

Even if you don’t lose consciousness or feel hurt after an accident, always go to the doctor. Traumatic brain injuries in particular aren’t always apparent to the casual observer. No matter what type of injury you have, you need a solid paper trail started early that specifically shows it was directly caused by the crash.

Failing to contact an attorney as soon as possible

The quicker, the better. An attorney can perform an investigation into the crash, gather evidence proving negligence, and help you deal with insurance.

Negotiating with insurance on your own

To make money, insurance carriers need to deny claims. An adjuster may try to trip you up and get you to admit fault, even when the accident was clearly caused by the other driver. Understanding how an insurance company may try to avoid paying your Virginia claim and how we can help you overcome them is key to protecting your rights. Never agree to give a recorded statement, even if specifically asked. Decline and politely refer them to your legal counsel instead. Your attorney can gather the relevant details of the case and provide them to the insurance adjuster on your behalf.

Releasing full medical records to insurance

Previous hospital stays or pre-existing conditions that have no bearing on your car crash injuries can be used against you. Have your attorney provide only the relevant medical records to insurance that relate to injuries sustained in the collision.

Using social media after the accident

Insurance carriers or the at-fault party in a lawsuit will use any tools at their disposal to cast doubt on the severity of your injury—and that includes anything you post on outlets like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Why you need to be careful using social media after a virginia car accident becomes especially clear when you consider that seemingly innocent photos may be taken out of context to make a case that you aren’t actually injured. Additionally, anything you post about the accident could be misconstrued and used against you, potentially hurting your claim.

Waiting too long to take legal action

Virginia has a two-year statute of limitations for bringing a personal injury or wrongful death case involving vehicle collisions. Have a lawyer help you early so you don’t miss this deadline.

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Have You Been Injured In A Virginia Car Accident?

If you've been injured in a Virginia car crash you should speak with an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as possible. The passion of The Mottley Law Firm is to protect the legal rights of clients who have suffered life-disrupting car accident injuries, so you can focus on regaining your health.

No matter where you are in Virginia, we want to hear from you. Contact us online or call our Richmond, Virginia, office directly at (804) 409-0876 to schedule your free consultation.

We welcome clients throughout Virginia, including the communities of Bon Air, Glen Allen, Highland Springs, Laurel, Mechanicsville, Short Pump, and Tuckahoe.

We also have the ability to handle personal injury cases across the United States with appropriate local counsel admitted in the jurisdiction. Schedule your confidential consultation today.