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Doing The Right Thing After The Accident
Lewis and Tompkins is an injury law firm that helps accident victims in D.C, Maryland and Virginia. We have years of experience and have helped many D.C. car accident victims get their lives back on track. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, contact Lewis and Tompkins for a free legal consultation today.
Gathering your wits and taking action (if you are able) after an accident can be the difference between receiving fair compensation for your damages and getting far less than you should.
There are steps that you can take that will help you avoid being taken advantage of by the insurance companies that are involved.
Call 911: Report the accident immediately, even if there is no obvious medical trauma. The reason for this is that the police can interview witnesses and do a basic investigation, which should include an accident reconstruction. This can be very helpful to you if the accident wasn’t your fault.
Record the Scene as Best as You Can: Get the names or license plate numbers of witnesses if you are able. Most cell phones have cameras built in. Use yours to record the scene of the accident.
Don’t Assume that You are “Fine”: Wait for the paramedics to examine you at the scene. Nothing could be more problematic in dealing with an insurance company than driving home and waking up the next day in pain.
Go to the doctor immediately: Again, delaying medical treatment is absolutely the worst thing that you can do. This gives the insurance company the chance to say that you suffered the “real injury” in the period of time that it took you to get to the hospital, or that you made a minor injury from the accident worse by not taking care of it. They can argue that because of this, they don’t have to pay for it.
Be Completely Honest: Don’t try to be tough and say it was nothing if you are in pain. Don’t try to make mountains out of molehills if it doesn’t seem so bad. Both of these actions can hurt you in court. Be nothing but honest.
Call Your Insurance Company: Even if the accident wasn’t your fault, you should tell your insurance company about the accident. Provide them with any information that you have, from the name of the other driver to the names of the witnesses to the names of the police officers that processed the accident.
Sign Nothing: If the accident was clearly the other driver’s fault, there is a good chance the insurance company will send some representatives around with a cash offer and some forms to sign. Don’t sign it. The amount that they are offering you is not only worth less than what you should be getting, but the forms that they want you to sign will absolve them from any future liability. So if your medical condition suddenly gets worse, it officially isn’t their problem anymore if you have signed those documents.
Lay Low Until You Have Consulted an Attorney: Don’t return insurance company phone calls. Don’t sign forms. Don’t accept offers to take you out to lunch. Any calls or e-mails should go to your attorney. If you don’t have an injury attorney, start working on finding one.
Follow Up With an Experienced Doctor: Find a doctor who has experience in accident injuries. Go over your treatment and any symptoms you might have, and again, be honest. Don’t exaggerate or minimize.
Take Some Time to Find the Best Lawyer: Your cousin who is a divorce lawyer won’t be good for your case. Find an injury attorney with experience.
Keep Track of Everything: Doctor’s appointments, e-mails, phone calls, notes about your medical condition and progress since the accidents. All of this information can be used to prove your case.
These actions might seem overbearing, but believe us when we tell you that the insurance companies are looking for any excuse to either not pay you anything or to pay you as little as possible. Following these rules will keep them finding a reason.
If you or a loved one has been in an accident, contact Lewis and Tompkins today.
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1432 K Street N.W.
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Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 202-296-0666
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