Car accidents can be very scary experiences – especially if you have never been involved in an accident before. An experienced West Unity car accident lawyer will be able to answer your questions and can help to streamline the settlement, negotiation, and litigation processes for you.
If you have sustained injuries in a West Unity car accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation under Ohio law.
An experienced personal accident attorney will be able to review all of the facts and circumstances of your case and may be able to help you obtain the monetary compensation that you need and deserve under the law. What follows is a summary of some first steps you can take after sustaining injuries in an Ohio car accident.
First Step to Take Following An Auto Accident
It is most important that West Unity car accident victims seek immediate, same-day medical treatment at a hospital emergency room or urgent care facility after sustaining their injuries.
Injuries, pain, and symptoms oftentimes do not manifest themselves until well after an accident occurs, and it is better to at least be examined by a medical professional as soon as possible after the accident.
Moreover, when accident victims fail to seek same-day medical treatment, that could have a negative impact on any personal injury claims that are later filed. Rightly or wrongly, in the mind of an insurance company adjuster, failing to seek same-day medical treatment demonstrates that the accident victim was not all that seriously injured or did not care enough about the injuries to seek immediate medical care and treatment.
An emergency room physician may also recommend that the accident victim follow-up with a primary care physician, begin physical therapy, or seek the services of a medical specialist.
Importance of Recieving Treatment
Car accident victims have a tendency to overstate their injuries and to portray those injuries as far worse than they really are. In fact, nothing can be more damaging to a personal injury claim than exaggerating injuries or over-treating for them. Thus, it is best for car accident plaintiffs to keep the following in mind:
- Treat conservatively for all injuries.
- Follow through with all health care providers’ treatment instructions.
- Be clear, concise, and accurate about symptoms in response to a health care provider’s questions.
It is also important to attend all scheduled medical appointments, to arrive on time for those appointments, and to stay for the entire allotted time. Upon completion of medical treatment and physical therapy, the insurance company will request copies of all medical records and bills.
If the insurance adjuster noticed missed appointments or long gaps in treatment, those deficiencies will reflect negatively on the potential settlement value or verdict value of any personal injury case.
How a West Unity Car Accident Attorney Can Help
Personal injuries sustained as a result of someone else’s negligence can be very serious and can have potentially permanent impacts.
An experienced West Unity car accident attorney will have the necessary legal experience to negotiate with insurance adjusters on your behalf and can potentially help you to obtain a fair value for your case via settlement, alternative dispute resolution, or trial.
You should feel free to contact an experienced West Unity car accident lawyer at any time by phone or online.