Being injured in an accident can rattle your world. When that injury is caused by someone else’s negligence, it’s an even more difficult proposition. The most effective way to help ensure that you reach your fullest recovery is by obtaining the compensation to which you are entitled, but this can be a complicated process – especially after being laid low by a serious injury. You are not alone, however, and an experienced San Francisco personal injury attorney from Kash Legal will skillfully advocate for your rights and for your rightful compensation while you attend to the important work of regaining your health and well-being.
No matter what kind of accident leaves you injured, the best path forward is generally bringing a well-considered personal injury claim. Personal injury cases are commonly predicated on the following types of accidents:
Whatever kind of accident leaves you injured, consulting with an experienced personal injury attorney sooner rather than later is in you and your claim’s best interest.
You’ve been injured by someone else’s negligence, which means that your personal injury claim will likely process through the at-fault party’s insurance company. You are attempting to cope with the physical and mental healing process, and it’s only natural to assume that the insurance company is busy at work doing its job, which is compensating you for your losses in full. Unfortunately, however, it’s generally not this simple. Because the insurance company is a for-profit business, it’s motivated to maximize its profits, and the most effective means it has of doing this is by minimizing settlements for claimants like you. Take the following three things into careful consideration:
The insurance representative is skilled at obtaining statements that the company later uses to thwart claimants’ cases. Remember that you are not required to provide the insurance company with a statement about the accident, and it’s in your best interest not to do so. Your dedicated personal injury attorney will get the insurance company the information it needs when it needs it (in addition to adroitly negotiating for the compensation to which you are entitled).
The insurance company is looking for chinks in your armor (even if these chinks are imaginary). This means that they will be scanning your social media accounts and will be liberally translating their meaning. We’ve all encountered a post or two that was taken in a manner other than what was intended, and you don’t want such a post to play a role in something as important as your personal injury claim. Staying off your social media accounts while your claim pends is excellent advice. That picture of you enjoying yourself on the beach may lift your spirits, but in the hands of the insurance company, it could take on a whole new meaning that does not support your claim.
Insurance companies have many weapons in their settlement-diminishing arsenals, and you shouldn’t allow these to frighten you away from your claim. These weapons can include simply denying a claim outright and hoping the claimant will give up and go away. Additionally, the insurance company might make an early settlement offer, which likely means that it’s hoping you’ll sign off on the matter – as a result of your vulnerability – before you’re fully aware of the extent of your damages. Other tactics can include stalling the process unnecessarily or making the process so needlessly complicated that you give up in frustration.
All told, you’re better off leaving the insurance company to your resourceful personal injury attorney while you focus on recovering your health.
You’ve been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, and there is no guidebook for this kind of thing. There are, however, some basic first steps that nearly universally apply, including:
If the injury-causing accident was a traffic accident, pull your vehicle as far out of the path of traffic as you can, call 911, and provide aid at the scene (if you are able) while you wait for emergency personnel to arrive.
This can be a difficult concept to grasp, but do not apologize at the scene of the accident. It’s only natural to express how sorry you are – especially in a difficult situation like an injury-causing accident, but your I’m sorry can be misconstrued to mean this is all my fault. Ultimately, the less you say at the accident scene, the better off you will be.
If you are offered medical assistance at the scene of the accident, accept it. Even if you don’t think you were seriously injured, it’s important to keep in mind that serious – and even life-threatening injuries – can be what are known as silent injuries that don't present with outward symptoms until they've become both more dangerous and more complicated to treat effectively. If you don't receive medical attention at the scene, you are well-advised to check in with your own doctor.
Follow your doctor’s advice and instructions as carefully and consistently as possible. When you demonstrate that you take your injuries and your recovery seriously, the insurance company will have a more difficult time not following suit.
The accomplished personal injury attorneys at Kash Legal Group in San Francisco have reserves of experience guiding cases like yours toward favorable resolutions. Our savvy legal team is here for you, too, so please don’t hesitate to contact or call us for more information today.
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