Why it’s important to call a personal injury attorney AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Right after you have an automobile accident in North Carolina, the first thing you should be worried about is your health. Make sure you get the healthcare you need.
But RIGHT after that you will want to call someone like me to make sure that you don’t run into the common errors that people make while trying to navigate their personal injury claim on their own.
The first error is talking too much. Everything you say can and will be used against you. Remember that the insurance company for the other side wants you to be even the least bit responsible for this accident, too, which gives them the ability to avoid paying out. If you don’t have to talk, don’t talk. If you need to tell the cops what happened, tell them, but don’t be apologetic if it wasn’t your fault.
The second biggest error is the gap in treatment. Delaying your care after your accident, even if you’re trying to do so for noble reasons, really only ends up hurting you in the end. Not even addressing the medical reasons to not avoid care, from a claims standpoint, the argument is always going to be, “If you were really hurt you would have sought treatment sooner.” By seeking treatment asap, you nip that one in the bud.
The third biggest error is not documenting everything. I tell all of my clients to write a pain journal starting the day of the accident. This will help preserve your memory of how much this experience negatively impacted you and will show the liability carrier that you’ll be a more compelling witness.
The last one is not getting ALL of your insurance involved. The at-fault carrier needs a claim set up with them. YOUR auto carrier needs a claim set up with them. Your HEALTH insurance needs to be used as well (except with chiropractors…more on that in another article). Insurance is there to be used in emergencies. This is an emergency!
Don’t try to handle your North Carolina personal injury claim on your own. Call an attorney who knows the deal. Call me at 919-929-2992.