Hartford Do's and Don'ts of Your Personal Injury Claim

If you or a family member have been injured in an accident, consider this “Do” list:

DO See a medical professional: Your most important goal is to get better.
DO Take photos! Get images or video of vehicle damage, your injuries, the scene of the accident, conditions, or anything that we can use to recreate the scene. Evidence get’s lost and conditions change. If you unable to take photos, give us a call. We can often have our attorneys, investigators, or experts out immediately to gather and preserve evidence.
DO Gather your insurance and medical information. Make a list of those medical professionals you have treated with for your injuries. The sooner we can collect your medical records the better positioned we will be to negotiate with the insurance companies.
DO Write down important information. Write down the names of witnesses, locations, conditions, or others you may encounter. Sometimes, it is difficult to remember the name of a witness months later. That witness could make a big difference.
DO Contact a Connecticut Personal Injury Attorney. While you start the road to recovery, our attorneys can start the process of handling the legal issues with your case. We will get police reports, send out preservation letters to those with potential evidence like surveillance video, interview witnesses, contact insurance companies, and begin compiling your medical records. You worry about getting better; we will worry about the rest.

Now, some Don’ts:

Don’t be “tough” (you know who you are)! It is hard asking for help, and no one wants to be accused of “complaining.” But, it is important to tell the medical professional all of your injuries and not just the worst one. Sometimes the smaller injuries turn out to be chronic ones, and insurance companies will claim that if you didn’t mention it soon after the accident, then it didn’t happen! Also, health care professionals need to know all your symptoms, injuries, and complications so that you can be treated effectively and appropriately.
Don’t give a statement to the insurance company. Sometimes an insurance adjuster will attempt to record your statement at a time when you are in pain, taking medication, or still attempting to recover from the shock of your accident. These statements may later be used to deny your claim or reduce your recovery. Insurance adjusters know what to ask and when, and they are not there to help you maximize your recovery. Their goal is to pay as little on the claim as possible.
Don’t go to social media first! Insurance adjusters will scour your social media accounts to try to find anything small thing to discredit your credible claims.
Don’t wait. Life happens, and memories fade. Get medical attention and seek legal help so that you can ensure that you are being properly compensated for your injuries.

Contact our personal injury lawyers to get a free and confidential consultation.