Dos and Don’ts after a Mt. Juliet Auto Accident

If you were injured in a car accident, there are three things you need to focus on: protecting your health and the health of your loved ones, avoiding anything that can jeopardize your chances of receiving compensation, and finding the right law firm that understands car accident claims and knows how to maximize your chances of success.

At Matt Hardin Law, our Mt. Juliet car accident lawyers have two decades of experience assisting innocent victims like you, and we know that many of the most crucial moments and decisions in car accident claims can occur during the minutes, hours, and days after the accident occurs.

Follow These Tips to Protect Your Health, Your Claim, and Your Future

In the immediate aftermath of your auto accident, do your best follow these tips:

Do

• Get medical attention right away if you or someone else is injured.

All other factors in a car accident are secondary to making sure that you, your passengers, and any victims in other vehicles get the medical attention they need right away. Call 911 as soon as possible after the accident and stay at the accident scene until police arrive to fill out an accident report and paramedics are able to treat you and anyone else who was injured.

• Go to a doctor for a full physical examination.

Even if you don’t think you were injured, or if you were treated by a paramedic at the scene of the accident, it’s still important that you see a doctor as soon as possible. Getting a full physical examination can help rule out internal injuries and also means that you’ll have a full medical report that can be used as evidence when your attorney builds your case.

• Contact an attorney as soon as possible.

Time is of the essence after a car accident, and the sooner you contact an attorney, the better your chances may be of receiving full compensation. An experienced attorney can begin collecting evidence immediately before it disappears, compile all the necessary paperwork, and file your claim long before the statute of limitations takes effect.

Don’t

• Don’t admit fault for causing the accident.

Even if you think you caused the accident, it’s important to avoid telling the police, your coworkers, and anyone who works for the insurance company. In many cases, drivers mistakenly believe they caused accidents when a further investigation reveals that they had no way of preventing or avoiding the accident. However, an admission of guilt can jeopardize your chances of receiving compensation.

• Don’t forget to report the accident to your insurance company.

Almost all insurance providers require that drivers report accidents shortly after they occur. Call your insurance provider as soon as possible to report that the accident occurred, but don’t volunteer any additional information about the accident to avoid hurting your chances of getting the money you deserve.

• Don’t accept an initial settlement offer without speaking to your attorney first.

After the insurance company learns of your accident, it may offer you a settlement to help pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and vehicle repair costs. Don’t accept this settlement or promises of additional payments in the future without speaking to your attorney first. In many cases, insurance companies offer “lowball” settlements that aren’t nearly enough to cover your entire accident-related expenses. In addition, accepting a settlement will nullify your chances of receiving additional compensation.

Put Your Claim in Our Hands

Between dealing with pain, a long recovery process, and trying to go back to work, you have enough on your plate after a car accident. Dealing with the insurance company and fighting over settlement offers shouldn’t be on your mind—instead, you should be focusing on getting better. The Mt. Juliet auto accident attorneys at Matt Hardin Law want to help take the stress of the accident off your shoulders and give you the peace of mind you deserve during this difficult time.

To get in touch with our legal team, dial complete a free online consultation form. It’s our goal to give your family the individualized attention you deserve from the moment you call us until the moment you receive your check.