At Good Guys Injury Law, we see many automobile accidents that could have been completely avoided if more initial caution had been taken by motorists.
Being involved in an automobile accident can be a scary and difficult time in your life. More often than not, people who are injured have never been in a car accident before—which can make the ordeal even more confusing.
Although every situation is different, there are several steps that should be taken after every single automobile accident. Whether you have recently been involved in an accident or simply want to be more prepared, here are four essential actions for dealing with the post-crash process:
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1) Call an attorney as soon as possible after an accident
This does not necessarily mean that you need an attorney. In fact, many personal injury cases do not ever require the help of attorneys. However, because you do not initially know whether you will need legal assistance, it is extremely important to call immediately. For most cases, we are able to contact witnesses, preserve evidence, and make sure clients receive proper medical care because they contact us within a week of their accident. At Good Guys Injury Law, we need to be prepared for the tactics of insurance companies, and we can do this most effectively if we have sufficient time.
2) Only hire an attorney who will focus their attention on your case
Unfortunately, there are a lot of attorneys and law firms that run high-volume practices where numerous quick settlements are more important than being thorough and making sure that each client receives the full value of their case. At Good Guys Injury Law, we limit the amount of cases that we accept, so that each case receives our full attention. Although we are not able to take every personal injury case that is presented to us, we accept the cases we think have the best chance at receiving a strong settlement.
3) Carry sufficient Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM)
Having enough Underinsured Motorist Coverage is extremely important. UIM comes into play when an at-fault driver has car insurance, but not enough to cover the damages to you and your vehicle. When clients carry high values of UIM coverage, insurance companies pay additional money for damages after they have tendered the at-fault driver’s policy limits. It is crucial not to waive your UIM rights and to carry sufficient UIM coverage. This way, clients are typically able to cover medical bills and lost wages incurred as a result of accidents.
4) Don’t accept the insurance company’s offer before seeking a professional opinion
Immediately after automobile accidents, insurance companies will often offer a small settlement of a few hundred dollars to victims who have been injured. Too many people assume that this offer is the most they can receive, and settle before deciding to speak with an attorney. It is important to remember that insurance companies are multi-million dollar businesses, and that they pay out as little as possible on claims to protect their bottom line. If you refuse any early settlement offers and speak with an attorney before agreeing to settlement amounts, we can give you an opinion on the value of your case and help explain all insurance benefits that are available to you.
Get Help When You Need It
Often enough, car accident victims are not aware of all the insurance coverage and benefits that are available to them. Many times, accident victims can recover additional benefits from their own car insurance company.
If you or someone you know is hit by a careless driver while driving, call our top-rated attorneys at (801) 506-0800 to discuss the potential of filing multiple insurance claims. We will provide you with a free consultation, as well as a copy of our free book, “7 Biggest Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Utah Accident Case and How To Avoid Them.”