When placed in a crash, it is normal to be in a panic. We have had lots of clients tell us that they do not know what was happening at the time of the crash. Your memory will not even serve you right when the time has already passed from the accident.
Here at Haque Legal, it is always our goal to help you out. We always want to ensure that you know what you should do after a car crash. We always reiterate that you need to call our car accident injury attorneys immediately after a car crash. We have won millions of dollars for auto accident victims because of our handling automobile insurance claims from start to end.
If you do end up forgetting to call because of the panic, we hope that you remind yourself not to commit the mistakes that people who suffered from a car crash would often commit. In this series of articles, we will discuss the common mistakes you should avoid when you are in a car crash.
Never lie about your injuries.
Some people know that they need to show their toughness even at times of a car collision in Michigan. The number one mistake that we noticed some flights make is to downplay the injuries that day suffered and make it appear that things are different.
On the flip side, some clients lied about their injuries in the crash and ended up with disastrous results.
It can be tempting to try and inflate your claims for damages by increasing the injuries you suffered during the crash. However, keep in mind that you will be under strict scrutiny by the insurance adjusters once you file for your insurance benefits. If you reviewed your insurance policy, you would notice that your insurance company may have a provision in the policy that the insurance company can use any false information on your insurance application for the benefits to avoid their contractual obligations to you.
What are the consequences of this mistake?
Other than the fact that you will probably have to lie repeatedly to save your claim, you would also have to face the reality that you may lose your right to file for the insurance benefits and to receive insurance benefits if you are caught lying about your injuries.
If the case goes to trial and you keep up with your light even on the complaint affidavit, the consequences are even more severe. Lying in court is considered a contemptible act and could be punished by the judge right then and there.
What is our advice?
Here at Haque Legal, our Southfield personal injury attorneys always advise our clients to tell the truth. We constantly repeat to our clients that telling the truth means that you do not have to remember anything; it would be as if you are telling a story. As long as you do not lie on your claims, especially about the injury, evidence can corroborate your claims.
Never fill up your no-fault forms without a lawyer’s assistance.
There is this saying in the legal world the worst client that a lawyer would have is himself. There is also this saying that even the best lawyer in the world would be the worst lawyer if he defended himself. The same is true for everyone.
Even if you are the most intelligent person in any room, you need to have the assistance of a person who is an impartial third party to your claim and who is on your side to help you fill out the forms as accurately as possible. This is where your lawyer comes in.
What are the consequences of this mistake?
If you fill up your no-fault forms without a lawyer’s assistance, you may have some inaccurate information for some innocent mistakes committed when filling up the form. Unfortunately, no matter how clear the error is, it can be labeled as a fraudulent claim by the insurance company and would terminate your right to claim all of your benefits.
The best example of this in Michigan law is the case of Bahri vs. IDS Property Casualty Insurance Company. In this case, the Michigan court of appeals found that any inaccurate submissions filed by the claimant on to the auto insurance company can result in the claimant losing all of the no-fault insurance benefits.
What is our advice?
Keep in mind that if a lawyer is assisting you, the insurance company would also be assisted by a battery of lawyers hired by company two. Go through all of your forms with a fine-tooth comb and point out the mistakes and inaccuracies that you make in your documents. Hence, make sure that you give yourself a fighting chance by having a lawyer help you fill up the forms.
Never sign anything without a lawyer’s assistance.
Another common mistake committed by some people who get into a car crash is trying to expedite the process by believing the insurance adjuster and signing away their legal rights. As we have always reiterated, it is always important to contact your lawyer as soon as you need to file a claim with your insurance company. This is because if the insurance company can make you sign your legal right away in the belief that you can easily get a settlement for a release of your claims, they will try to persuade you to do so.
Even if this is considered a dirty insurance company tactic, it may be hard for us to go after your insurance company once you sign a waiver of legal rights. You may receive a payment or a settlement, but it will not be the amount you are legally entitled to.
What is our advice?
As in our advice to the previous common mistakes, always having a lawyer present when dealing with the insurance company is essential. It is easier to wait for your lawyer to answer your call and help you deal with the insurance company than to try to rectify a mistake of you signing away your rights.
There are a lot of other common mistakes that you should avoid when involved in a car crash. You will find the series on our website.
Let Haque Legal Help You With Your Collision Problem
Now that you know facts about your rights in case of a car crash in Michigan, it is time to get down to it. If you require a lawyer who can assist you with ensuring that you protect your rights to your property, it is essential to know that you also have Southfield car accident lawyers that can help you out with your specific needs.
Our law firm is dedicated to ensuring that the law will protect those who are innocent and the full extent of justice will be used.
Disclaimer
The article that you have read is based on general applications of the law. It is not legal advice, and it is not to be construed as any legal consultation with the firm. No client-attorney relationship is created when you read the articles we have provided.
Let us help you out
After a car crash, call our car accident injury attorneys immediately. We have helped thousands of auto accident victims claim millions of insurance benefits with the proper handling of automobile insurance claims from start to end.
The post Three BIG Mistakes to Avoid After an Accident appeared first on Haque Legal.