Chula Vista Auto Accident Attorney
Important Tips After You Have Been In An Auto Accident
1. Do Not Speak With Insurance Companies. After an auto accident, the insurance companies will be calling you. Don't speak with them! Tell them to call your attorney; or, if you don't have an attorney yet, tell them your attorney will call them.
2. Have Your Attorney Contact Insurance Companies For You. Most people know they have a duty to notify their own insurance company after they have been in an accident. However, most people do not know it is perfectly okay to have your attorney contact your insurance company for you. In fact, it is the smarter way to go.
3. Get an Attorney Immediately. To make sure you get the best possible settlement, get an attorney right away. Don't wait. Getting a personal injury attorney will cost you nothing; personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means they get paid a percentage of the settlement you receive for your case. And they don't get paid until the end of your case. So, getting a personal injury attorney will cost you nothing; but waiting to get an attorney may cost you lots.
4. Get Medical Treatment Immediately. If you were injured in the accident, it is important to get medical treatment immediately, even if you don't have health insurance. Any emergency room will see you immediately (although you will probably have to wait a while), and they will treat you whether or not you have health insurance. They will send you a bill later, and your attorney can arrange for the responsible party to pay that bill. So, don't wait to get medical treatment.
5. Delay Hurts Your Case. Immediate Medical Treatment is also very important to proving your legal case later. If you delay getting treatment, you can count on the insurance company to use your delay to argue you weren't really injured. So, don't help them. If you were injured, get to a doctor or emergency room right away.
6. Your Attorney Can Help If Treatment Was Delayed. Even if you were injured in an auto accident and delayed seeing a doctor, you can still bring a claim. The best approach in this situation is to contact a personal injury attorney immediately, and find out what options for medical treatment are available to you. Usually, your attorney can assist you in finding quality medical treatment with no payment due until the end of your case.
7. Find Out What Deadline Applies to Your Case. It's never a good idea to delay contacting an attorney. In California, you have two years to settle your case or file a lawsuit. (There are exceptions to this rule; your attorney will review all the facts of your case and tell you which deadline applies.)
