After a Car Accident, Let Your Doctors and Lawyers Do the Talking
After a Car Accident, Let Your Doctors and Lawyers Do the Talking
You are famous for your organizational skills. Your tax refund is already in your bank account while most of the people around you are scrambling to file for an extension on their taxes. You are never late for an oil change or a dental cleaning. Meanwhile, you manage to do all of this while working full-time and raising children. The endless administrative tasks associated with getting compensation for your medical bills and vehicle repairs after a car accident are a match for even the most organized people. Even if you usually take the attitude that delegating tasks is less efficient than continuing to run your one-person show the way you are used to doing, you have a better chance of getting more money, and therefore taking less of a financial hit, if you leave it to the experts to decide what to say and do after a car accident. You are already a parent, and employee, and your own personal assistant. You can let a Louisiana car accident lawyer be your attorney!
The Importance of Getting a Report From the Emergency Room After an Accident
Even if you are used to keeping a stiff upper lip about your aches and pains, you should go to the emergency room after a car accident. The purpose of this visit is not to get treatment that you do not really need, but rather so that your medical records will reflect the truth about the accident and the injuries that resulted from it. Insurance companies might not believe you that your injuries occurred the way they did, but having a report from the ER, with a doctor’s description of your injuries will make it much harder for them to refute your claims.
More importantly, several serious injuries related to car accidents don not show symptoms immediately. Concussion and whiplash injury can lead to chronic pain. If you get examined at the ER right after the accident, the doctor can advise you on how to stop your symptoms from getting worse. You can also avoid having to fight with the insurance company about whether the symptoms are accident-related.
Beware of Giving a Recorded Statement to the Insurance Company
Giving recorded statements to the insurance company seems like a routine procedure after a car accident, but it is actually a trap. The insurance claims adjusters are trying to catch you on record giving an inconsistent account of the events. When the claims adjusters make small talk, they are trying to get you to open up about pre-existing medical conditions. Do not take the bait if a claims adjuster says that her kids are in college but her feet have not stopped hurting since her last pregnancy. A light-hearted remark about your old bones could be an insurance company’s excuse to pay you less for your claim. Instead, you should let your car accident lawyer talk to the insurance company for you.
Contact Mansfield Melancon Cranmer & Dick About Car Accident Cases
A car accident lawyer can help you avoid undermining your case by speaking too freely with the insurance company. Contact Mansfield Melancon Cranmer & Dick Injury Lawyers in Louisiana, to discuss your case.
