In this video, Rockville injury lawyer Rick Lundin of Nickelsporn & Lundin, P.C. shares three mistakes that can ruin a personal injury case for a car accident victim in the first week following the accident. The three mistakes are:
1. Not seeking medical attention immediately. Not only is it critical for you to be healthy, it is also important to seek a medical diagnosis quickly so that the injuries can be attributed to the accident. If you have any pain at all at the scene of the accident, go by ambulance to the hospital for the fastest medical care and diagnosis.
Regardless of whether you went to the hospital or not, you should also schedule a follow-up appointment with your own doctor to ensure you are treating your injuries properly. Call our office if you don't have a doctor to go to; we have a list of doctors who can work with you and your insurance company to get you proper medical care.
2. Giving the other driver's insurance company a recorded statement. The other driver's insurance company has no right to obtain a recorded statement from you. Refuse to give them a statement. They are only attempting to get one so they can see if you were partially to blame for the accident, thus allowing them to deny your claim or pay you substantially less. You are required to give your own insurance company a statement. We prepare our clients for these and stay with them during the statement to ensure nothing unfair occurs.
3. Failing to obtain contact information for the other driver and witnesses. For the other driver, it's best to have their full name, driver's license number, address, date of issuance, and a phone number. Also obtain the year, make, model, vehicle ID number, and license plate information of the other vehicle involved in your accident. For witnesses, make sure you have their full name, address, and phone number.
Please consider contacting the Rockville injury lawyers at Nickelsporn & Lundin for free consultation at 800-875-9700. We have doctors ready to treat you, attorneys prepared to help with your statement, and investigators standing by to help obtain information on all witnesses and drivers in your accident.
