Few people are forced to cope with a car accident often enough to get the hang of it. What that can mean, though, is that victims may not understand who to trust and who is really on their side. What victims should know, though, is that the at-fault driver's insurer is not on your side. All insurers are in it to make money and not to pay accident victims what they deserve. That can mean victims have to fight back to get paid compensation for their damages. To find out more, read about some common car accident problems and how to fight back.
Confusion and Lack of Support
One of the worst things that can happen to accident victims is to have no help with their claim. Insurers can be difficult to work with and many victims give up and accept far less than they should. When insurers refuse to return your phone calls, ignore claims that need to be paid, and deny claims for no good reason, you need help. Speak to a personal injury lawyer about your case. They can take the communications burden from you and cope with the insurer on your behalf.
Allegations of Fault
One of the most important aspects of a car accident is fault. If you are at-fault in any way, you may not be paid any money at all for your damages. You can be accused of the following as the insurer's way of avoiding fault for their client:
- You were driving too fast to avoid the other driver
- You were breaking some traffic laws at the time you were hit
- You failed to see the other driver because you were distracted
And more.
Already Hurt
Another common problem is when you are accused of already being hurt by a previous accident or medical condition. Just because you've been hurt in a previous accident or are suffering from a medical condition does not mean you were not injured by the current accident. In most cases, the insurer will request medical records that go back further than your most recent accident when they are trying to pin this one on you.
Failure to Mitigate
This term refers to allegations that you did not seek medical attention for your injuries in a timely or complete manner. You must see a medical professional after an accident and follow all medical instructions. Stay in treatment so that you can show that you are not allowing your condition to worsen due to lack of care.
Problems with insurers are only the beginning of problems. Don't let things get this far. Speak to a personal injury lawyer about your case as soon as possible after an auto accident.
Sadly, many people are injured due to someone else's negligence. Maybe you were in a car accident that was the other driver's fault, and now you're dealing with relentless back pain. Or perhaps your neighbor's dog bit you, and you're considering suing them. Both of these scenarios fall under the legal umbrella of personal injury law.
Since proving someone else is responsible for your injuries can be challenging, the world of personal injury law is a vast one. Your own attorney is your best source of information directly related to your own case, but we created this website to give you a good basic overview of what your personal injury case may entail — and what you can expect when you meet with your attorney. Dig in and start reading our articles; you'll soon feel more informed as to what's to come.