Learning More About Your Accident

As you begin working to obtain a settlement for your car accident, be aware of the factors that can have a negative impact on your case. The at-fault driver's insurance company likely will conduct an investigation not only of the accident and your medical records, but of you personally. You can do a lot to prevent problems with your case by avoiding certain activities and by being ready to deal with information that comes up from your past. 

Don't Talk about the Case

The insurance company may contact all sorts of people you know looking for information about what you've been saying and doing. Their investigators are skilled at encouraging people to divulge information without realizing there could be negative consequences. Limit your discussions about your situation to as few persons as possible and only those you are sure you can trust. 

Be Careful with Social Media

You can expect an investigator to look through your social media accounts and to be able to view accounts you have set as private. For now, it's best to avoid social media activity entirely and to not allow anyone to post pictures of you since the accident occurred. Even a picture of you looking happy at a restaurant might harm your case.

Avoid Physical Activities You've Said You Can't Do

If you've specified a certain level of physical activity you're capable of, don't exert yourself beyond that level while this case is pending. Investigators may be taking pictures and videos of you. If they find you climbing a ladder to clean out gutters, playing hoops in your driveway, or doing some other strenuous activity, you may ruin your case.

Don't Skip Medical Appointments

If you skip appointments for physical therapy or other treatments, this signals the insurance company that you're not as hurt as you claim. 

Consider Your Past

If you are requesting a settlement higher than the insurer wants to pay, the company may try to intimidate you with details about your past that you wouldn't want a jury or the public to know. Consider the sort of information that might crop up during an investigation. You can't change what you've done in the past, but you can have the composure to deal with this information effectively now. 

Consult an Accident Lawyer

Personal injury lawyers provide free consultations, so you have nothing to lose by scheduling an initial appointment with an attorney. These lawyers typically only receive a percentage of the settlements they work to obtain, so you won't have to pay upfront fees if you hire an accident attorney like Kuzyk Law.