Many people think that there is no reason to contact a personal injury attorney after a seemingly-minor fender bender crash. After all, they “feel fine.” In fact, many people feel better after a crash.
That feeling of euphoria is usually adrenaline. This hormone masks the pain that people feel from their injuries. More importantly, many car crash victims may have a head injury. Sudden back-and-forth motion usually causes whiplash, and sudden loud noises (like a crash) can cause a more serious traumatic brain injury.
So, even if you walk away from the crash, you may still be seriously injured. Therefore, it’s important to follow a few rules so that you can preserve your rights.
DON’T: Talk to the Nevada Insurance Company
Television commercials usually portray insurance agents as friendly people who are “on your side.” These advertisements often include celebrity endorsements and catchy jingles to drive this point home.
For the most part, insurance adjusters are friendly, at least to their own customers. But the other driver’s insurance company is most definitely not “on your side.” Like most other business people, insurance agents only care about their company’s bottom line. A claim against the policy is always a loss, so the relationship is always adversarial. It does not matter how friendly the agent seems.
This adversarial relationship begins with the initial phone call. The telephone operators on the other end of the line are trained to extract damaging information from the victim. These statements are meticulously recorded and usually admissible in court later, due to a loophole in the hearsay rule.
You have no duty to give a statement to the other driver’s company. And, you might do your case serious harm if you give a statement. So, have your attorney talk to the other driver’s insurance company. The company can wait a couple of days.
If your policy requires you to immediately report the incident to your insurance company, then do so. If there is no such requirement, then don’t make that call either.
DO: Talk to a Las Vegas Attorney
As mentioned, many accident victims may be seriously injured and not know it. The longer their injuries go untreated, the longer it takes to recover. So, do yourself and the insurance company a favor by reaching out to an attorney.
Why a lawyer instead of a doctor? Many health insurance companies do not pay for car crash-related expenses, because of liability issues. Additionally, your regular provider probably has little or no expertise in these matters.
Calling an attorney addresses both problems. Attorneys send letters of protection to medical providers. These letters guarantee payment when the case is resolved. So, there is no upfront expense. Moreover, a car crash attorney can connect you with a car crash doctor. This physician knows how to properly diagnose and treat your injuries.
Damages in a Las Vegas car crash case usually include compensation for economic losses, such as medical bills, as well as noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering.
Contact an Aggressive Lawyer
Even if you don’t feel injured, you may be injured. For a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney in Las Vegas, contact Naqvi Injury Law. We routinely handle matters in Clark County and nearby jurisdictions.