Important Things For Car Accident Victims To Know
When you get into a car accident, you might not anticipate how complicated things can get. There are many impactful decisions you’ll need to make quickly. Our Midvale, UT car accident lawyer knows that understanding the key steps and what is important after a car accident can make the recovery process smoother and increase your chances of a successful claim.
Our team of attorneys has over 25 years of combined experience and has recovered millions of dollars for our clients. If you have been in a car accident and are in need of assistance, contact the Acadia Law Group PC today.
Attorneys Often Work On A Contingency Fee Basis
One of the biggest initial fears that car accident victims have is the cost of hiring an attorney. Clients and potential clients have shared that they assumed legal help would be too expensive, and it would be easier to handle it alone with the insurance company. This couldn’t be more wrong, and could end up costing you money in the end, when the insurance company finds a way to deny or shortchange your claim.
Personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis—meaning they only get paid if they win your case. They never ask for money upfront, and if there’s no settlement, you owe nothing. They never reach into your pocket! Fees are explained and guaranteed from day one with a contract. The contract and fees are dependent on a settlement and are taken only out of that settlement, not out of your personal funds.
Working with a personal injury attorney requires no cost investment, and no risk to you! If you never achieve a settlement, you do not have to pay an attorney for their time and service.
Medical Treatment Is Key—Don’t Skip It
Many don’t realize how crucial good medical treatment is—not just for your health, but for your case. The medical records, with treatment notes, subjective reports, objective testing, and future care plans, create the foundation of your case. Clients often tell us they are reluctant to get more treatment because they imagine that with each successive doctor visit, the medical bills are stripping money from their settlement.
Make no mistake, a good attorney is tasked with helping watch rising costs on your case and balance that to help you get the best outcome, but no treatment = no settlement. You’ve got to provide proof of your injuries and your damages, and the only way to do that is with medical records as evidence.
Seeking quality medical care with the right kinds of specialists and good documentation adds value to the case rather than taking money away from you. It isn’t just about healing; it is about documenting the full picture to ensure you receive a fair settlement. Additionally, seeking prompt treatment can help protect your long-term health by identifying potential health issues such as head injuries and chronic pain.
Get Your Car Repaired Properly
Many clients are happy to oblige the insurance company, and go to the body shop the insurer recommends. Clients don’t realize that they have more choice in this. Not all body shops are created equal.
Nobody would imagine it, but the insurance company starts gauging the severity of your crash (and therefore your injuries) by judging the damage to your car. The way your car is evaluated for damages, and then repaired can actually impact your bodily injury case. For purposes of a personal injury case, think of your car like a human body: you want to see doctors (body shops) that you know will help you feel better (fix the car). You hope to achieve your best state of health, close to how you were before the crash; this is what it means to use OEM parts and return your car to pre-accident condition.
You also want a doctor who is caring and thorough, who will ensure that ALL injuries caused by the crash get the treatment necessary; the same way you want to make sure the body shop finds all related damages to your vehicle so they are accounted for and repaired. A good breakdown and proper repair is another way for the insurance company to get a fuller picture of what happened in an accident.
Most Auto Shops Work For Insurance, Not You
If you didn’t work in the industry, you’d probably never know that most auto body shops are under contract with major insurance companies. That means they’re often pressured to use cheaper aftermarket or used parts instead of Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts. These can affect both safety and value. Your attorney can help you find an independent shop that will prioritize your best interests as you seek to receive a fair evaluation, proper repairs, and the compensation that you deserve.
Take Photos And Keep Notes
Take pictures of everything, even small bruises or scrapes on your skin. Stress levels are at an all-time high after a crash and chances are, while you are trying to juggle everything, you probably aren’t worried about taking pictures. When we ask for photos, usually people have some of their vehicle, but only about 50% of our clients have photos of their injuries. Remember, your injuries are important evidence for your case.
We recommend taking pictures of damage to all vehicles involved, photos of the scene of the incident, bruises, scrapes, swelling, and anything else that shows how the crash impacted you. Don’t forget to talk to witnesses that saw the crash occur. You want to start collecting evidence on your case right away with photos. After this point, keep notes on paper or in your phone of how you are feeling, your different injuries, symptoms and the doctors you see.
Be Honest With Your Attorney
It can be overwhelming knowing who to trust. But your lawyer is the one person you should tell everything. Thanks to attorney-client privilege, your information stays private and protected at all costs. Your lawyer can’t help you fully if you withhold facts. Clients sometimes feel frustrated when we ask questions about their medical history. This is not meant to be invasive and most don’t realize that it might not seem relevant, but this is a question that comes up in nearly every single case we’ve ever settled.
We ask to be proactive and to be one step ahead of the insurance company. By anticipating their attack, we strip them of ammunition that might be used against you. Honesty is the fastest route to strong representation. The only way the attorney can help protect you is if they know about it first. Honesty is a key factor that insurance companies and defense attorneys are looking to attack when it comes to injured plaintiffs.
Your Emotional Pain Matters Too
We see client after client suffer in so many ways after a crash – it touches every part of your life. The emotional trauma is real, and these feelings are valid. Tell your doctors and your lawyer how the accident has affected your mood, sleep, relationships, work life, hobbies, and routines. Emotional damages, known as pain and suffering, are a valuable part of building your case as well, and you may be able to recover compensation for the emotional suffering that you have endured.
Good Insurance On Your Side Matters More Than You Think
Everyone wants to save money on insurance, but nothing is worse than the regret after learning that the person that hit you had no insurance, and you rejected the option for coverage that would have protected you in this very scenario. Underinsured and uninsured motorist (UIM/UM) coverage protects you if the other driver has no coverage or not enough of it. For just a few extra dollars a month you can have coverage that gives you peace of mind and proper protection.
In the unfortunate event that someone hits you with little to no coverage, if you end up having major injuries and even needing a surgery, UIM/UM coverage is going to be essential for getting help with medical care.
Ask Your Doctors About Future Care
Your doctor probably won’t bring up long-term treatment, and what your future outlook holds, unless you specifically ask. This is not what clients think about in their everyday life, but this will be critical if you have a personal injury claim. If future care isn’t documented, it’s harder to seek compensation for it.
A good personal injury claim accounts for what you’ll need in the months—or years—to come. This is a form of coverage you receive from the case, to help you even after it closes, in the event that you are still receiving and in need of more medical treatment.
Filing A Car Accident Claim Can Be A Complex Process
Some people think hiring a lawyer means a quick payout. It doesn’t work like that. Every case is different, because every injury, person, and situation is unique. It is impossible to predict in the beginning how your unique case will turn out. It is also impossible to control other parties, like the insurance company adjuster, or a medical provider, who also impact the length of a case. You will have little control over how long it takes your body to heal.
The treatment is the most important part of your case. You don’t want to rush through it, at risk of losing value and reducing the full settlement you may be entitled to. Aim for remaining in close communication with your attorney. Our attorney and staff will keep you regularly updated about where your case is at in the process, and help you anticipate next steps. We will help you understand the strengths and limitations in your case so you can work together as a team to have a positive impact on the elements that you can control.
Contact Our Car Accident Lawyer Today
After decades of representation, our attorneys know how stressful a crash can be for victims, and how daunting the path to recovery might seem. The good news is that you do not have to go through it alone. Contact the Acadia Law Group PC today to schedule a consultation and discover how we can assist you with your car accident case.
