Common Mistakes People Make When Filing Car Accident Claims in San Diego, CA
If you’ve never taken legal action before, you likely won’t know what to do after experiencing a car wreck. If someone else was responsible for your collision, holding them accountable for any damages you’ve suffered is key, but moving forward with a lawsuit can be complex.
A San Diego car accident attorney can guide you through the legal process and make sure you’re taking the right steps to maximize your settlement. Contacting a lawyer as soon as possible will prevent you from making mistakes. Your attorney can try to fix any mistakes you’ve made once they’re introduced to your case, but informing them of your wreck from the start is most helpful.
Not Calling the Police
One thing you must do before partnering with an attorney is to call the police as soon as your accident occurs. This mistake often occurs before you even know you have the possibility of a lawsuit on your hands. Regardless of the severity of your collision, you should call the police and have them create a police report. This will provide an official account of the details of your wreck.
Waiting to See a Doctor
You should also see a doctor as soon as your collision occurs, even if you don’t think your injuries are severe. If you decide you want to file a lawsuit after your wreck and you’ve delayed your doctor’s visit, it can be difficult to prove that your injuries directly resulted from the accident. The defendant may argue that your injuries occurred after the wreck and that you’re trying to blame your injuries on them.
Even if your injuries aren’t severe, you should seek medical attention immediately. If you experience delayed injuries, you can then go back to the same doctor and your medical records will verify that your delayed symptoms resulted from the collision.
Failing to Keep Track of Your Records
Failing to keep track of your records can result in a lack of evidence in your case. If you don’t have evidence to support your argument in court, you won’t be able to prove negligence against the defendant and win the settlement you deserve.
You should keep track of your medical records, any receipts that may apply to your case, any social media posts, and other photographs or video footage. You can use all of this information as evidence, and it’s better to have more evidence than not enough. If you hire a lawyer as soon as your accident happens, they can investigate your case and gather evidence for you.
Waiting to Contact an Attorney
Waiting to contact an attorney can be detrimental to your case if you spend your time making irreversible mistakes. If you want to recover the compensation you deserve, you should trust a professional and accept their support.
It never hurts to contact an attorney sooner rather than later. If you find a law firm that offers free consultations, you can get your questions answered without feeling pressured to commit.
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