Another driver’s negligence has left you injured in a car accident, and you may well be at a loss for where to turn. Car accidents are nothing if not upsetting and disorienting. It can help, however, to familiarize yourself with the five most important considerations when it comes to car accident settlement agreements. If another motorist injured you in a car crash, it’s time to consult an experienced Connecticut personal injury attorney.
Important Considerations
When it comes to car accident settlement agreements, there are five primary considerations:
1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention - You’ve been in a car accident, and as such, you’ve endured a significant impact. Even if you don’t think you were injured in the accident, it’s critical that you avail yourself of the emergency medical services at the scene of the accident. It’s important to recognize that the immense upset caused by an accident can leave you in shock, which can trick you into not recognizing that you are injured—or into not recognizing exactly how injured you are. Further, there are several serious injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and whiplash, that can lie dormant until they become much more serious and difficult to treat. After a car accident, seek immediate medical attention and carefully follow your doctor’s prescribed treatment plan, including all follow-up appointments. This is not only the right thing to do for your health and wellbeing but it is also one of the best things you can do to support your accident claim.
2. You Need an Attorney - If another driver caused you to be injured in a car accident, you have plenty on your plate—the most important of which is tending to your health and recovery. Car accidents are unsettling, and getting your bearings back and attending to your health are likely to take up most of your time and energy. Car accident claims are complicated, but obtaining the compensation to which you are entitled is far too important to leave to chance—or to the car insurance company. Adequate compensation is likely to be critical to your ability to successfully travel the path toward a complete recovery. A skilled Connecticut personal injury attorney will help ensure that your rights are well protected and will aggressively advocate for your claim’s most positive resolution.
3. Know What Not to Do - If you’ve been in a car accident, it’s difficult to know how to proceed, but there are some basics that apply to your accident claim and any attendant settlement offers that you should never do. This includes talking about the accident at the accident scene. While it’s necessary to answer any questions asked of you by officers on the scene, you should do so as succinctly and truthfully as possible—and stop there. You may be tempted to apologize to the other driver out of sheer habit, but refrain from doing so. Anything you say in the heat of the moment can come back to haunt your settlement negotiations. To help clarify your thoughts about the accident, jot down your recollections in your own words as soon afterward as possible, and then consult with a skilled Connecticut personal injury attorney.
4. Understand the Car Insurance Company’s Motivations - You’ve been injured in a car accident, and you will, therefore, be hearing from a car insurance company—or two. Understanding that the car insurance company is motivated by generating massive profits is critical to you obtaining your best settlement offer. Insurance companies are able to reap immense profits by minimizing—and even outright denying—accident claims like yours. You’ve been injured, and you’re entitled to compensation that will help you on the path to recovery. As such, your needs (and legal rights) and the insurance company’s motivations are at odds. Further, insurance companies have deep pockets and typically aren’t averse to digging in to help squelch claims and diminish settlement agreements. You are not required to give a statement to the other driver’s insurance company, and you are advised not to do so. Allow your dedicated Connecticut personal injury attorney to negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf.
5. Don’t Sign a Settlement Agreement without Your Personal Injury Attorney’s Input - Your car accident claim will likely lead to the insurance company making a settlement offer. Sometimes, an insurance company will make a speedy settlement offer that is actually an attempt at lowballing you with far too little compensation. You’ve been in an accident, and you may well be tempted to put the whole thing behind you as quickly as possible by accepting whatever the insurance company puts in front of you. While this attitude is understandable, it is a terrible idea. Beware the early settlement offer. Further, the damages you’ve sustained in the car accident are complicated and could continue to have overarching physical, emotional, and financial consequences. You don’t want to agree to a settlement offer until you’re fully aware of how the accident will continue to affect your life into the future. Your dedicated Connecticut personal injury attorney has the experience, knowledge, and know how to help you assess the full extent of the damages you’ve suffered and to aggressively advocate for a settlement offer that addresses them in their entirety.
If Another Motorist’s Negligence Leaves You Injured, Consult an Experienced Connecticut Personal Injury Lawyer Today
You’ve been injured by another driver’s negligence, and in order to recover to the fullest, you need a settlement agreement that adequately compensates you for the full range of damages you’ve suffered.
The dedicated legal team at Leighton, Katz & Drapeau has the experience, compassion, and commitment to fight for your claim’s best possible resolution. Our skilled personal injury attorneys have been proudly serving Connecticut for almost 30 years, and we’re here to help you. Your claim and your health are far too important not to fight for the settlement agreement to which you are entitled. For more information, please contact or call us at (860) 875-7000 today.
