When you suffer serious injury in an accident due to the negligence of another party, you should seek legal representation as soon as possible. If you were the victim of an accident caused by someone else’s fault, it is crucial to seek the assistance of a personal injury accident lawyer at the earliest opportunity.
Hiring a capable personal injury attorney in Utah at the earliest possible date will prevent you from making serious errors in self-representation. Letting your lawyer represent you first helps you avoid common mistakes in handling an injury claim. Call the Law Office of Chris W. Chong for more information before you take any action on your own.
Mistakes Made Without a Personal Injury Accident Lawyer
When you are involved in a personal injury accident, insurance companies will try to get you to speak with their adjusters before you speak with an attorney. This is the case whether you caused the accident, you were partially responsible, or the accident was entirely due to another party’s negligence or willful act.
There are certain things you should never do or say with insurance adjusters –
- Agree to be interviewed over the phone. Utah is a one-party consent state. This means the insurance adjuster does not have to ask your permission to record the conversation on the phone. Recordings can be edited to distort the honest answers you give the insurance adjuster. Be polite, and make time for in-person interviews, but do not allow yourself to be recorded. This is not a problem when you let your lawyer handle your case.
- Agree to a blanket release of all of your medical records. The insurance adjuster will look for ways that a medical condition could have affected your role in the accident. Giving the adjuster blanket access wipes HIPAA rules, so they can call your doctor and ask leading questions that can slant the story in their favor. When you have a lawyer managing your case, you don’t have to worry about anything.
- Fall into the trap of answering a “what if” question. Speculating about the facts gives the insurance company’s lawyers ways to question your story. When you don’t know something, do not guess. Just admit that you don’t know it.
- Volunteer information when an insurance company doctor examines you. Let them do their medical exam, but do not give them reasons to look for conditions that could shift responsibility for the incident to you. In Utah, you are entitled to a copy of the insurance company doctor’s report. Having a lawyer take care of your case ensures that you will not encounter any issues.
- Talk to adjusters while you are in the hospital. Insurance adjusters sometimes literally chase the ambulance to offer a quick settlement when an accident victim is still in shock and pain from the accident. There have been incidents in which adjusters tried to get an accident victim to sign a settlement as they were coming out of anesthesia. Your lawyer can handle everything for you, so there’s no need to be concerned.
- Accept a lowball offer just to get on with your life if it does not cover your losses. Insurance companies will make you wait until you are desperate in expectations you will settle for less. When your case is in the hands of a lawyer, there is nothing to fret about.
All of these problems can be avoided if you simply let your attorney take care of dealing with insurance companies and other parties to your accident.
Look for Salt Lake City Personal Injury Lawyers
A personal injury lawyer will always make a huge difference to your case’s outcome. A skilled personal injury attorney can significantly help navigate the complex legal process of an injury claim. They can handle any tricky questions that insurance adjusters present and ensure that all paperwork and documentation related to your case are correctly completed and filed on time.
Chris W. Chong is a top-rated personal injury accident lawyer serving clients in Utah. He can advise you on your rights and options and advocate on your behalf to ensure that you receive fair compensation for your injuries.
Do not hesitate to get in touch. Call the Law Office of Chris W. Chong today for a free consultation.
