This is the next post in my discussion on choosing a Laredo car accident lawyer. My previous article provided an overview of topics which this series will be addressing. It also stressed the need to speak with an attorney immediately following a car accident. It is important that you speak with counsel sooner, rather than later, as there are immediate steps your representative will take to protect your interests. These include immediately reaching out to the defendant’s insurance carrier and more. In this article we will discuss steps which one should immediately take following a wreck. If you or a loved one have been injured, and are in need of assistance, then contact my office to speak with a personal injury attorney. My office also serves other areas of south Texas.
Laredo car accident victims should seek immediate care following the wreck
Seeking medical care is always the first thing that any Laredo car accident victim should do following a wreck. Failing to do so can result in a victim not receiving the full amount of compensation to which they are entitled. The reasons for this are twofold. First, not seeking immediate medical care can give rise to a defense claim that you were not actually injured in the accident. Second, failing to seek immediate care can give rise to a claim that you failed to mitigate your damages. I will discuss each of these possibilities in turn.
There are times in which an accident victim does not immediately go to the hospital after a wreck. They do so out of a belief that they are “fine” or that their injuries are not serious. However, after time passes they recognize that pain or stiffness is only getting worse and they then go to the hospital. While they then receive treatment for their injuries, the defense can now claim that they were, in fact, injured by some other event which occurred between the accident and the time at which they sought care. Depending on the circumstances, this can reduce a victim’s chances at receiving compensation. By seeking immediate care, a victim can alleviate this problem.
Failing to seek immediate care can also create a defense claim that the victim did not mitigate their damages. Another way of putting this is that the victim actually made their own damages worse. This claim arises out of the possibility that a victim’s injuries would not have been as severe if they had sought immediate care. Suppose, for example, that a victim does not go to the hospital immediately even though their leg is throbbing after an accident. As the pain gets worse, they visit the hospital and it turns out that the leg is, slightly, bleeding internally. Moreover, because immediate care was not sought, this internal injury has now become infected. While the victim will likely want compensation for the infection, the fact of the matter is that the injured individual may well be seen as having made their own situation worse. While it is important to remember that how a jury will rule is always going to depend on the facts of the case, this is one example of why personal injury attorneys will suggest the immediate seeking of medical care.
Victims should retain a Laredo car accident lawyer as soon as possible
After seeking medical care, it is important that victims retain a Laredo car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Typically, the defendant’s insurance adjuster will try to reach out to you very quickly. The adjuster will often encourage you to not seek representation and to settle with them directly. In my experience, such tactics lead to “low ball” offers which do not take all of a victim’s potential damages into consideration. By retaining an experienced attorney, one can help to ensure that their interests remain protected.
If you or a loved one have been injured then contact my office today to schedule an initial appointment. I am proud to serve our local community and we take great pride in the level of service we provide. Contact us online or by telephone.