There are over 6 million car accidents every year. Many of these car accidents turn into lawsuits further down the road.
But even a few simple mistakes can ruin your car accident lawsuit.
We’ve put together this guide to help you know what you should and shouldn’t do during your case.
1. Lying
Lying won’t do anything to help your case, this includes if you were in a drunk driving accident or a distracted driving accident.
You might think exaggerating your injuries or the damages to your car will get you more benefits. But the court does its research. They’ll find out if you’re lying, and when this happens, you might not be able to get any benefits at all.
In fact, putting false information on your insurance application can actually void your entire claim.
But fortunately, this is an easy mistake to avoid. Always be honest with your lawyer about what happened during and after the car accident, even if you are at fault for the rear-end car accident or a head-on car accident.
2. Not Getting a Police Report
When the police arrive at the scene of the car accident, one of the things they should do is create a report. If, for some reason, they don’t fill out this document on their own, make sure you ask them for one.
You should then get a copy of this police report (which is something your lawyer might do for you). This report can be an important piece of evidence for your lawsuit.
3. Skipping Your Doctor’s Appointments
You should always visit your doctor after a car accident. It is common to experience injuries after car accidents. If you’re in a lot of pain or have a serious injury, you may want to head to the emergency room instead.
Don’t skip these appointments.
You won’t notice any symptoms for some car accident injuries until a day or two after the accident, such as whiplash. Because of this, you should go to the doctor, even if you feel fine.
Skipping appointments can reflect negatively on your case. It can make people think you aren’t actually as hurt as you claim.
Besides, your safety and health should be your top priority after a car accident, so make sure you show up for every doctor’s appointment you scheduled.
4. Not Telling Your Doctors Everything
When you’re at the doctor’s office, don’t skip over even the smallest detail.
You should tell your doctor about everything that happened during the accident. Make sure you let them know about any amount of pain or discomfort you’re feeling, no matter how small.
Remember, many car accident injuries won’t show up until a day or two after the accident. Something you think is a minor discomfort now can turn into a serious injury later.
Don’t be afraid of sounding silly.
This isn’t a time to mince words. It’s better to share everything than miss something and suffer the consequences later. This will also give you a record of every potential injury, which can prove they were a result of the accident.
5. Not Taking Pictures
Do your best to gather as much evidence as possible.
Did you get a bruise or a broken bone from the accident? Take a picture.
Did your car get dented or damaged? Take a picture.
Did some of your personal belongings get ruined during the accident? Take a picture.
If you don’t feel comfortable taking these pictures yourself, you can talk to your lawyer about it. They can send a professional photographer to do the job for you.
Forgetting to take pictures means you might not have enough proof to back up your claims.
6. Getting Rid of Evidence
Just as it’s important to gather evidence, make sure you don’t get rid of any important evidence.
This might seem obvious, but it’s easy to accidentally make this mistake.
For example, if you broke one of your bones during the accident and got a cast, it can serve as proof of your injury once you take it off. So don’t let the doctors throw it away.
You should also save any pill bottles or prescriptions you got as a result of the accident.
7. Talking to Other People About Your Case
Never talk to other people about your case, including friends and family.
Certain people, like defense lawyers or insurance adjusters, may try to contact you during your case. But don’t tell them anything. They can use anything you say against you later.
This also means you should keep any information about your case off social media. Defense lawyers will probably check out your social media accounts during a trial, and they can also use anything they find against you in court.
8. Signing Anything Without Talking to Your Lawyer
Never sign any forms from anybody without talking to your lawyer. Otherwise, you may not understand what you’re signing, and it can cause you to lose your case.
9. Making Mistakes When Filling out Forms
You’ll have to fill out a lot of different forms during your car accident case. You should always talk to your lawyer before working on any of these forms. Even a simple mistake can ruin your case.
That’s why it’s always better to hire a lawyer instead of trying to handle your lawsuit on your own.
Poor Communication With Your Lawyer During Your Car Accident Lawsuit
One of the biggest mistakes you can make during your car accident lawsuit is hiring a lawyer who doesn’t communicate with you.
After all, this is your case. Your lawyer should keep you in the loop, so you need to make sure you hire a reputable lawyer you feel comfortable with.
Not sure where to look? We can help. Make sure you get in touch with us today!
