Many times it is only after an accident that you realize the mistakes you made that compromise your injury claim.  Here are some tips for before and after an injury auto accident that will help to make sure that your rights are preserved.  Remember, insurance companies are in existence to make a profit.  The less they pay out in claims, the more money is added to their bottom line.  Even your insurance company will first protect their financial interest before they will write you a check for your valid and justified claim.

TIPS BEFORE AN AUTO ACCIDENT

• Make sure you have sufficient coverage:  Assume that the other party is uninsured.  Never waive the uninsured motorist coverage.  An extended stay in the hospital can cost several hundred thousand.  At a minimum, insure yourself with $100,000/$300,000 coverage. (That means $100,000 maximum per person and $300,000 maximum coverage per accident.)
• Add Medpay to your policy, minimum $10,000: The average trip to the hospital combined with an ambulance ride is $10,000-$15,000.  Medpay is a no-fault type of insurance and will be immediately available to pay any medical expenses. 
• Purchase a disposable camera to keep in your glove box.  This will come in handy for more than taking pictures of your auto accident.  Also, pictures taken with film have a much higher resolution than those taken with a cell phone.
• Remember, if you loan your car to a friend, you are liable personally for any accident they cause.  If you don’t have sufficient coverage, you could expose your personal assets to a claim by an injured party.

TIPS AFTER AN AUTO ACCIDENT

• Make sure you get any witnesses’ contact information.  Following an accident, a guilty party may have selective memory, or recreate the accident so that the blame is placed on you.  If you have passengers, speak to the other party in their presence and discuss the fact that the other party is at fault.  If they admit their fault in the presence of your passenger, they will have a tough time trying to change their story later.
• Take pictures of the vehicles and scene of the accident and of your injuries.  Bruises and cuts fade and it will be impossible to prove the full extent of your injuries if you fail to take current pictures of your injuries.
• If a police report is made, make sure the investigating officer hears your version of the facts.
• Always retain an attorney.  Insurance companies will never give an unretained person the same settlement that they will one who is has retained a practiced trial attorney.  Never use an out of town attorney.  These “as seen on T.V.” attorneys simply take your case to make a quick settlement that is far less than you can get if you hire a practiced local personal injury attorney.  If they can’t get a quick settlement, they refer it out to a local attorney to get a referral commission.  You are just a number to them and they will try to settle your case and almost never be willing to take your case to trial.  Insurance companies know which attorneys are “settlers” and which are “trial attorneys”.  The potential recovery you will receive will always be bigger with a competent local trial attorney.
• Report the accident to your insurance company and the DMV as required by law.
• Don’t EVER give a recorded statement until your attorney is present.  The purpose of either insurance company taking a recorded statement is to try to avoid paying a claim.  Their questions are scripted to elicit an admission that you are fully or partially at fault or that you were not injured so that they save money.  The good hands they profess to have are used to keep all your insurance premiums and are loathe to let a few coins fall to their insureds.
• Seek necessary medical attention within 3-4 days minimum.  If you try to tough it out, insurance companies will interpret your refusal to seek medical attention as an admission that you were not injured.  Unfortunately, several months later you may discover that that your nagging injury will not go away.  Many people do not feel pain directly after an accident because they have an adrenaline rush, which is the body’s “fight or flight” response.  Most people don’t feel the full effects of their personal injuries until the next morning or even several days later.  If you postpone seeking out medical treatment, this will be interpreted by the insurance companies as your fraudulent attempt to get an undeserved payday from a non-existent injury.
• Even if you suffer only a soft-tissue injury, you may need to seek out a medical doctor in addition to your chiropractor.  Pay attention to your how your body responds to chiropractic treatment.  If you don’t start to feel a decrease in your symptoms after a few weeks of treatment, schedule an appointment with your family doctor to see if your injuries may be more serious.
• Call us for a free in-person consultation with an attorney.  When in doubt, get competent legal advise.