3 Steps to Protecting Your Rights after a Car Accident
Thousands of South Carolinians are injured in accidents caused by the negligence of other drivers each year. In many cases, victims are saddled with significant bills and other losses through no fault of their own. Fortunately, under South Carolina law, people hurt by the negligence of others can typically recover compensation for all of their accident-related losses, including their medical bills, lost income, property damage, and physical and emotional pain and suffering.
That said, compensation is not automatic, and there are certain steps that victims should take to protect their rights. Three of the most important are detailed below. For more information, call our office today to discuss your case with a lawyer.
1) Seek Medical Attention and Keep Up with Your Treatment
You should request a thorough medical evaluation after an accident, even if you did not need to go to the hospital or you do not think your injuries are serious. It’s important that you obtain medical documentation and engage in treatment as soon as you can.
Furthermore, be sure to keep up with your prescriptions, physical therapy, and attend all of your follow-up appointments. Insurance companies can use a lack of medical records or engagement with treatment as a reason to reduce a settlement or even deny a claim altogether.
2) Avoid Using Social Media
Social media usage has been a daily part of life for many people these days. As a result, it may be surprising to learn that the things you post could have a significant impact on the outcome of your case. Insurance companies are incentivized to pay out as little as possible and have teams of employees whose sole purpose is figuring out ways to justify lowering settlement offer, including going through claimants’ social media accounts with a fine-tooth comb to find evidence that could be used to argue that their injuries are not as serious as they claim they are.
3) Retain an Attorney as Soon as You Can
After an accident, it’s highly advisable to retain an attorney as soon as possible. If you wait, evidence important to your case can be lost or destroyed, so starting an investigation early is the best course of action. In addition, while you are unrepresented by counsel, there’s a chance that you will say or do something detrimental to your case. For these reasons, your first call after you have dealt with your immediate injuries should be to an experienced personal injury lawyer near you.
Call Us Today to Schedule a Free Case Evaluation with a Personal Injury Attorney
If you have been injured in a car accident, it’s in your best interest to contact our office right away. Our experienced South Carolina personal injury attorneys are dedicated to helping victims obtain the compensation to which they are entitled. We have offices serving Greenwood, Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Laurens, and Saluda. To schedule your free case evaluation with a lawyer, call our office today at (864) 388-9100 or contact us online.