You’re driving along and suddenly you collide with another vehicle. Time seems to slow down as you feel the brunt of the impact, you hear the sound of crunching and tearing metal, and you feel yourself be restrained by your seat belt and cushioned by your airbags. You’re probably hurt, and you’ve just gone through one of life’s most traumatic experiences.
It can be a bit much to ask auto accident victims to comply with detailed checklists in the immediate aftermath of such an unexpected and violent event in their lives.
At Skolrood Law Firm, we help many auto accident victims who are injured by negligent drivers, and very few of our clients follow every recommended step to a tee. But in many cases, it’s less about taking the right steps and more about avoiding the WRONG steps, which can include:
- Admitting fault for the crash—If you tell the other driver or police officer that you think you caused the crash, it can be difficult to get compensation. As soon as the insurance company gets wind of your admission of guilt—even if it’s later proven you didn’t cause the crash—you’re fighting an uphill battle.
- Lying about your injuries—Never exaggerate or even downplay your injuries. Be honest and upfront from the beginning, whether you’re talking to the other driver, the police, the paramedics, or the doctor.
- Waiting too long to get a lawyer—Although our state has a two-year statute of limitations on personal injury claims, waiting too long to file means there will be less evidence and more suspicions from the insurance company. Call a Roanoke auto accident lawyer right away after your crash to maximize your chances of getting paid!
