How To Win A Car Accident Case In Alabama?

After a car accident, there are several steps you can take that will help you preserve your right to seek compensation in a personal injury claim. From seeking medical care to preserving evidence, understanding what you need to do and why you need to do it can help you build a strong case for recovering compensation.

Seek Medical Attention Immediately

Even after a minor car accident, seeking medical attention for any injuries can help document your accident injuries. A doctor can also help to identify any issues that are more serious than you think. Sometimes, injuries have a delay in the onset of symptoms. Seeing your doctor can help you be aware of what to look out for, and a doctor can diagnose and offer treatment options before your injuries progress.

If you ultimately decide to pursue a car accident claim, you will have to show damages. This includes proving that any injuries you suffered were crash-related. Having medical records documenting your injuries in the immediate aftermath of your accident helps prove how they occurred.

Gather and Preserve Evidence

When building a car accident case, you will need to prove how the accident happened and who was at fault. Gathering evidence at the scene of the accident will preserve important information before it disappears.

Evidence that is important to gather right away includes:

• Photos: Take pictures of the damaged vehicles, their license plates, as well as the road and weather conditions.
• Security footage: Take note of traffic cameras and security surveillance cameras on nearby buildings that might have recorded the crash.
• Police report: Call the police to the scene. Officers who respond to a crash scene will prepare a police report.
• Witness information: Use your phone to take pictures of drivers licenses and insurance cards of the parties involved. Get contact information for witnesses.
• Vehicle damage: Repair estimates give you more than just anticipated costs, they also provide proof of the severity of your crash.
• Medical records: Any medical records from treatment you seek after a crash provide evidence that your accident caused your injuries and document the extent of your damages.

Some evidence, like witness contact details, can become impossible to track down if you don’t take action at the crash scene. Additionally, security camera footage is often recorded over. An attorney can help you gather and preserve evidence, while you focus on healing from your injuries.

Follow Your Treatment Plan

If your doctor prepares a treatment plan after your accident, follow it. Following your doctor’s advice gives you the best chance of making a full recovery after you are injured in a car accident. Additionally, insurers specifically look for treatment gaps as evidence to use against you. They may even claim that you are not as badly hurt as you are claiming. Having a clear and consistent record of medical treatment helps you prove the extent of your injuries, your commitment to getting better, and ultimately justify a settlement.

Be Careful When Speaking With Insurance Adjusters

Insurance companies want to preserve their bottom line. Generally, insurance adjusters want to pay as little as possible for claims. They will examine your statements for inconsistencies and might argue that your actions contributed to the crash. To protect your claim, you should:

• Stick to the facts as much as possible
• Avoid speculating about what happened or who is to blame
• Never accept a settlement offer without getting legal advice

Sometimes, insurance adjusters offer early settlements. This is a tactic to get you to settle your claims before you understand the full extent of your injuries. However, once you accept a settlement offer, you cannot go back and ask for more. An attorney can help you assess your accident injuries and understand how they will affect your life on an ongoing basis. Ultimately, an attorney can help you protect your right to recover compensation for the full extent of your damages.

Avoid Common Mistakes

Sometimes, drivers make mistakes after an accident that impacts their claim. Some of the most common mistakes include:

• Posting on social media: Social media posts can be taken out of context to prove you aren’t as badly hurt as you claim. Avoid posting anything on social media and ask your friends and family not to include you in pictures or posts.

• Missing appointments: Missing appointments provides insurers an opening to argue that you are exaggerating your injuries. Attending every appointment helps protect your claim.

• Waiting too long to seek legal advice: Your lawyer will help you to preserve evidence. They can also speak to the insurance company on your behalf.
• Exaggerating your injuries: Exaggerating your injuries can jeopardize your claim because lying about the incident in any way gives the other insurer evidence to deny your entire claim. Always be truthful and honest about the losses you are experiencing.

Work With An Experienced Alabama Car Accident Lawyer

Mezrano® Injury Lawyers is a firm that provides relentless advocacy for our clients. We prepare every case as if it will go to trial and we are unapologetically thorough. Our Alabama car accident attorneys will:

• Investigate your crash
• Preserve evidence
• Assess and calculate past and anticipated future damages
• Communicate and negotiate with insurers
• Prepare your case for trial and advocate for your right to recover the compensation you deserve

Our attorneys are skilled negotiators and trial-ready advocates.  We have multiple office locations throughout Alabama and have recovered millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts on behalf of our clients. We take a deeply personal approach to our cases.