What Should I Do in the Days After a South Carolina Car Accident?

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Being involved in a car accident isn’t something any driver looks forward to. However, they’re incredibly common due to negligence. After the initial shock wears off, you likely will wonder what you can do to safeguard your legal rights. To maximize your chances of a successful claim, you need to know what to do in the immediate aftermath of a car accident and what to do in the days following your accident. Please continue reading to learn what steps you should take in the days after a South Carolina car accident and how a dedicated Chesterfield County Car Accident Lawyer can help you fight for the funds you deserve. 

What Should I Do in the Days Following a South Carolina Car Accident?

In the days following a car accident, it’s essential to take the proper actions to safeguard your legal rights. However, ensuring your well-being and health should be your priority. If you don’t receive medical care at the accident scene, you should visit a doctor as soon as possible to ensure that your injuries are diagnosed and treated. Keep in mind any delays in medical treatment, the harder it will be to prove that the accident caused your injuries.

Unfortunately, many accident victims assume just because they feel okay means they are in the clear. In reality, specific injuries aren’t immediately evident. It can sometimes take days or weeks to manifest delayed injury symptoms. If serious injuries are left untreated, they can turn life-threatening. As such, you should seek immediate medical attention and complete any medical treatments that medical professionals recommend. If you fail to follow your treatment regimen, the insurance company will attempt to minimize your claim by stating that you are exaggerating the extent of your injuries or that you contributed to the severity of your injuries by failing to mitigate your damages.

Moreover, you need to keep a detailed record of everything pertaining to the accident. For instance, if you visit your doctor and receive a new diagnosis, keep track of those medical records. Create a file containing all accident-related documents that demonstrate the costs of your damages. This may include property damage estimates, medical bills, wage statements, photos and videos of the accident scene, accident reports, and more.

Should I Admit Fault?

Insurance companies will often resort to deceptive strategies to minimize their payout. As such, you should avoid admitting fault. Even saying “I’m sorry” can be used against you to assert you hold some blame for the cause of the accident. Refrain from providing insurance adjusters with recorded statements. To ensure you don’t say anything that can be taken out of context and used against you, you should leave interactions with insurance companies to legal professionals.

At the Cockrell Law Firm, P.C., we understand how devastating car accidents can be. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence, please don’t hesitate to contact our Chesterfield County car accident lawyers, who can help you fight for the justice you deserve.