A serious car wreck can derail your life in the blink of an eye, leaving you seriously injured and drowning under a flood of unexpected costs. From lost wages and replacement services to medical bills, it can often feel like your bank account has sprung a leak.
Fortunately, if you can show that the other party involved was negligent, you may be able to recover compensation. A settlement won’t just cover many of the losses mentioned above, but could also include compensation for non-economic damages such as loss of enjoyment in life and emotional distress.
However, succeeding in a personal injury claim is no trivial matter. Legal proceedings can be incredibly unpredictable, and it’s likely that you will face disputes at almost every turn, especially if you are seeking a large sum. Thankfully, there are many steps you can take that might help mitigate challenges down the line.
Let’s look at some actions that might help strengthen your car accident claim:
1. Start a Personal Injury Journal
Keeping detailed entries documenting the challenges you face throughout your recovery can help give others a window into how your injuries have affected your mental and physical health. For instance, tracking your pain levels can help provide context for your medical records, helping you build a case for non-economic damages. You can also use your journal to log any medication side effects and keep detailed notes of your doctor’s appointments for later reference.
2. Take Your Recovery Seriously
Once you’ve received a diagnosis, you need to make sure you follow your treatment plan closely. Claimants are expected to take reasonable measures to mitigate damages, so deviating from your doctor’s script could compromise your case if opposing parties can prove that your actions aggravated your injuries. For instance, if your doctor has instructed you to book time off work to let your injuries heal, you shouldn’t ignore their orders and return to your desk prematurely as this could open the door to disputes.
3. Deactivate Your Social Media Accounts
Claims adjusters are always on the hunt for evidence that could be used as ammunition for disputes, and this fact-finding mission isn’t just limited to the accident scene. It’s possible that they might start digging through your social media posts for any comments, pictures, or even reviews that could be used to challenge your credibility. As such, you should disable your accounts until your case has been resolved to prevent them from accessing this potential treasure trove of evidence.
4. Preserve Evidence
Whether you were able to gather proof at the accident scene or have obtained copies of any accident-related invoices, you should make sure to save such proof in a safe place. Such evidence will likely play a crucial role during proceedings, helping you demonstrate liability, causation, and damages.
Speak to a Texas Car Accident Attorney Today
Were you left seriously injured after a car wreck? Turn to the legal team at Hilliard Law to discuss your options for seeking compensation.
We can help advise you of some of the steps you might need to take throughout proceedings to avoid disputes, delays, or other complications. Contact us today at (361) 882-1612 or fill out our Contact Form to request a free case review with a Texas car accident attorney.