Your behavior after a crash often carries more weight than you realize. A single social media post, a casual statement to an insurance adjuster, or even a delay in seeking medical treatment may ruin your chance at fair compensation. Insurance companies seize every opportunity to twist facts and minimize payouts.
The car accident attorneys at Hach & Rose, LLP, can help you take the right actions, avoid common mistakes, and secure fair compensation.
This article discusses the actions that may hurt your car accident claim. Read on.
Delaying Medical Treatment
Failing to seek immediate medical attention weakens your claim from the start. Insurance adjusters often argue that delayed care signals a lack of serious injury. They use that delay to cast doubt on the connection between your injuries and the accident. Always visit a doctor right after the incident, even if the pain feels minimal.
Admitting Fault at the Scene
Words matter after a collision. Casual phrases like “I’m sorry” or “I didn’t see you” often sound innocent, but insurers twist them into admissions of fault. Police reports, eyewitness statements, and traffic footage should tell the story, not your offhand remarks. Stay calm, stick to facts, and allow professionals to investigate.
Posting on Social Media
Every status update, selfie, or gym check-in weakens your claim when the insurance company sees it. They monitor your accounts for signs of recovery or contradictions to your injury reports. A smiling photo posted after the crash may undo weeks of medical documentation. Keep your online presence silent until the claim concludes.
Failing to Follow Doctor’s Orders
Doctors recommend specific treatments for a reason. Skipping appointments, ignoring prescriptions, or returning to work too soon suggests your injuries lack severity. Insurance representatives monitor compliance closely and argue that non-adherence proves recovery. Stick to the medical plan precisely as prescribed to support your case.
Providing Recorded Statements Without Legal Counsel
Insurance adjusters often contact victims quickly, asking for recorded statements. While they may seem helpful, they craft their questions to trap you. Without proper guidance, your words may include details that harm your claim later. Refuse to speak on record until you receive legal advice and representation.
Signing Documents Without Review
Releases, waivers, and early settlement offers often hide clauses that erase your rights. Signing without full knowledge ends your claim before it starts. Once you agree in writing, reopening the case becomes nearly impossible. Always request time to review documents carefully and involve legal support when necessary.
Waiting Too Long to Act
Each state imposes strict deadlines for personal injury claims. In New York, the clock begins ticking on the day of the accident. Miss the deadline, and you lose all legal standing. Acting preserves evidence, secures witnesses, and ensures your case proceeds immediately.
Downplaying Your Injuries
Minimizing your pain in conversation, medical visits, or reports creates a false picture. Insurers latch onto your own words and paint your suffering as exaggerated. Express your symptoms accurately and fully without attempting to appear strong or unaffected.
In summary, every move you make after a car accident strengthens or damages your claim. Even well-intentioned actions lead to setbacks when they reflect poor timing, careless speech, or misplaced trust.
Protect your compensation by thinking before speaking, following professional advice, and resisting quick decisions. What you do or fail to do after the crash matters more than you think.
