Top Mistakes to Avoid After a Car Accident in Hamburg
What you do after a car accident matters in a number of respects. Not only must you do everything in your power to maximize your compensation, but you must avoid mistakes that can either eliminate your ability to be paid for your injuries or reduce the amount of money that you receive. The insurance company is on the lookout for ways that they can save money, and mistakes will play into their hands. The best way to avoid mistakes in your case is to hire a car accident lawyer immediately after you have been hurt.
Trying to Handle the Case on Your Own
You may think that dealing with the insurance company and filing a claim on your own will save you money because you do not have to pay a lawyer. This approach is penny-wise and pound-foolish. Study after study shows that those who hire car accident lawyers end up with more money in their own pockets, even after paying a lawyer their percentage of the settlement. Further, hiring a car accident lawyer takes much of the burden off your shoulders when you are already dealing with difficult circumstances. A car accident lawyer knows how to investigate the crash and deal with the insurance company, with the aim of maximizing the amount of compensation that you receive for your injuries.
Talking to the Insurance Company
The insurance company wants to hear about the accident in your own words. They are not doing this because they are interested in learning the truth. Insurance companies want to talk to you because they either want to get you on the record saying something about the accident or minimize your own injuries.
The insurance adjuster is going to try to talk to you whenever they can. Do not do this at all! It is never in your interest to speak to the insurance adjuster because your words are going to be turned around against you when you file a claim for the accident.
Accepting an Early Settlement Offer
Insurance companies make you low settlement offers first for several reasons. First, they want to catch you unaware of the full value of your claim, hoping that you will settle early and for less than its full value. Second, insurance companies like to drag out settlement negotiations to wear you down and get you to accept less.
When the insurance company makes you an initial settlement offer, always know that they have more room to raise it. They are acting as any negotiator would under the circumstances, and you must be aware of that. You are always free to counter the insurance company with a settlement offer of your own that is a better reflection of the amount of money that you deserve. Remember that you could always negotiate when you are filing a car accident claim, and you do not have to accept what the insurance company offers you.
Admitting Any Type of Fault
New York uses a “modified comparative negligence” system in car accident cases. You may be entitled to financial compensation, so long as you were less than 50% to blame for the accident. If you bear any type of fault, your compensation is reduced by that percentage that is assigned to you.
Accordingly, the insurance company is looking for you to admit some type of blame for the accident. They can use this admission to either eliminate your entitlement to compensation or to reduce it significantly. Never trust any insurance company, whether it is that of the other driver or your own. They can and will use anything that you say against you.
Our Hamburg Car Accident Lawyers at Dan Chiacchia Injury Attorneys Will Fight to Get You the Settlement You Deserve
If you have suffered an injury due to the actions of another driver on the road, speak to our Hamburg car accident lawyers at Dan Chiacchia Injury Attorneys. To schedule a free case review, call us today at 716-648-3030 or fill out our online contact form. Located in Hamburg, New York, we proudly serve clients in the surrounding areas.
