Many accident victims fail to recover the compensation they deserve after a wreck simply because they don’t know what mistakes to avoid in a car accident case. Accident-related injuries can be incredibly expensive and living with a serious injury can negatively impact many aspects of your life. While you have clear legal rights if someone else was at fault, you will want to avoid mistakes to ensure you are able to recover the financial compensation you deserve.
The car accident lawyers at Fuller & Fuller, Attorneys PLLC have helped clients throughout the state for 50 years . Led by experienced attorney Marya Fuller, a specialist in accident and injury law, our firm has a proven record of success in helping clients recover the full and fair compensation to which they are entitled under the law.
Seven Mistakes To Avoid in a Car Accident Case in Washington
1. Waiting Longer Than Necessary
When you have a car accident case, you should not wait any longer than necessary. This applies to all aspects of the recovery process. After being injured in a car accident, you should try to take the following steps as soon as possible:
- Document your injuries and vehicle damage
- Report the accident to the police and your insurance company
- Obtain a medical diagnosis and treatment for your injuries
- Write down as many details as you can remember
- Hire a lawyer to conduct an investigation and give you advice
Unnecessary delays can prove costly. For example, if you wait to take photos or see a doctor, you may have trouble proving the cause of your accident and your injuries. If you wait to hire an attorney, your lawyer might not be able to collect key evidence before it disappears.
2. Ignoring Your Doctor’s Medical Advice
Once you obtain a medical diagnosis and begin treatment, you should continue to follow your doctor’s advice throughout the recovery process. If you are not confident in your doctor’s advice, do not simply ignore it, but instead seek a second opinion. Not only is following your doctor’s advice important for your physical recovery, but it is important for your financial recovery as well.
3. Ignoring Your Lawyer’s Legal Advice
In addition to following your doctor’s medical advice, it is important that you follow your attorney’s legal advice as well. By doing what your lawyer recommends (and not doing what your lawyer recommends against), you can improve your chances of recovering the full financial compensation you deserve.
4. Assuming the Insurance Companies Will Treat You Fairly
No matter what they say on TV and online, the insurance companies are not on your side. You cannot trust them to treat you fairly during your car accident case. Instead of relying on your insurance adjuster, you need to be your own advocate, and you need to provide your lawyer with the information he or she needs to handle your case effectively.
5. Accepting a Low Settlement (and Waiving Your Legal Rights)
When dealing with insurance companies, you need to resist the temptation to accept a quick settlement. If an insurance company offers to pay before you have fully presented your case, this almost certainly means that the insurance company is trying to get away with paying less than you deserve. If you accept a low settlement, you won’t have the money you need for your recovery, and you won’t get a second chance to go back and ask for more.
6. Relying on Inaccurate Information
Unfortunately, there is a lot of inaccurate information out there. To protect yourself, you need to avoid relying on bad advice and false information published online. Additionally, while your friends and coworkers might be well-meaning, they also might not have a clear understanding of what it takes to win your case after a serious car accident. To make sure you are making informed decisions, you need to rely on the advice of an experienced car accident attorney.
7. Failing to Take Your Situation Seriously
Finally, one of the biggest mistakes to avoid in a car accident case is failing to take your situation seriously. Car accidents can have expensive and long-term consequences. If you aren’t fully committed to your recovery, you run the risk of making bad decisions that will leave you without the financial resources you need to move on.
Speak with a Washington Car Accident Lawyer for Free
If you were injured in a car wreck caused by another party, you deserve compensation for your physical, financial, and emotional losses. A Washington car accident lawyer at Fuller & Fuller, Attorneys PLLC can help. We understand the hardships you may be facing and we are dedicated to helping you move forward.
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Contact our office today online or at (800) 570-4878 for a FREE initial consultation with an experienced car accident attorney. Our firm has served clients in Olympia, Tacoma, and other areas throughout Washington for 50 years.
