Mistakes to Avoid After a Tennessee Car Crash

Posted in Car accidents on June 15, 2020

The last thing anybody expects to happen to them is that they will get into a car accident. Unfortunately, car accidents are not uncommon in Tennessee. If you or somebody you care about has been involved in an accident, you are probably wondering what steps you need to take to receive compensation for your medical bills, property damage, and other expenses. Unfortunately, car accident cases can become complex, particularly when dealing with aggressive insurance carriers who do not want to pay large settlements. Here, we discuss some mistakes that you can avoid after a Tennessee car accident in order to secure maximum compensation for your claim.

Avoid doing this after a Tennessee car accident

According to the Tennessee Department of Safety, we can see that there were more than 200,000 total car accidents across the state during the latest reporting year of data available. Out of these collisions, there were more than 48,000 injury crashes and 1,064 fatal crashes. However, in order for victims in these cases to recover the compensation they deserve, there are some mistakes to avoid when pursuing a claim with an insurance carrier or seeking compensation through a lawsuit.

Refusing medical treatment

In the immediate aftermath of a car accident, it is not uncommon for injury victims to not feel any pain at all. They may think that they are not injured, and therefore refuse medical care. This is an unwise decision. Not only could there be underlying injuries that could affect a person hours or days after the accident occurs, but not seeking prompt medical care could give insurance carriers a reason to deny your claim.

Not following up with your doctor

Even if you sought medical attention in the immediate aftermath of a crash, an insurance carrier will closely monitor your ongoing medical treatment. If you refuse to follow a treatment plan prescribed by a doctor or if you stop going to see the doctor altogether, the insurance carrier will use this as evidence to say that you are not really injured.

Giving recorded statements

There is no benefit to giving a recorded statement to the insurance carriers involved. Doing so will give the insurance carrier evidence that can be used against an injured party if they mess up and say something that could jeopardize their claim.

Speaking with the insurance claims adjuster

Very soon after an accident occurs, you will likely receive a phone call from the insurance claims adjuster of the other driver involved. The number one thing to remember is that insurance claims adjusters are not your friends. The claims adjuster works for the insurance carrier, and their job is to limit the amount of money the insurance carrier pays out in a settlement for your case. The insurance adjuster will seem friendly, but they will also try to get you to say things that give them the excuse to lower your settlement offer.

Taking an early settlement offer

The insurance carrier for the at-fault party may offer an initial settlement offer that seems enticing, particularly if they know that the evidence is stacked against them. As tempting as it may be to take an early settlement offer, please understand that initial settlements are likely far below what you should be receiving for your accident claim. If you have not already done so, work with a skilled Nashville car accident attorney with extensive experience handling these cases. An attorney will have the resources necessary to thoroughly investigate your case and ensure you receive maximum compensation.