In today’s blog, I will share five tips you need to know if you’ve been in a car accident in Plattsburgh, New York.
If you’ve been in a car accident in Plattsburgh or anywhere in Clinton County, there are a few things that you need to know to make sure you protect your right to a fair outcome for any insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.
Get Treatment right after your accident.
Number one: contact emergency services.
Many people are in shock right after an accident. They often jump out of the car and proclaim, ‘Ah, I’m fine.’ Only to feel racked with pain in the hours and days afterward.
Going straight home after the accident can result in a delay in treatment that insurance companies will use against you. In almost every case, it makes sense to call an ambulance and the police to respond to a car crash.
Emergency response professionals may observe things about your medical condition or the circumstances of the crash that may become very important down the road to your recovery.
For instance, the New York State Police are very experienced with accident investigations. And the Emergency Department at CVPH sees many people daily who’ve been involved in car crashes. These folks will ensure that you get the care you need and accurately document what happened to you.
Document your injuries and recovery
Number two: use a written or video injury diary and record your recovery.
An accident is something most people want to forget, but if you’re presenting an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit, there are some memories that you’ll want to remember.
In most cases, you won’t get a chance to tell your story until months or even years after the accident. And by then, some of the worst days will be behind you, and it can be hard to conjure them in testimony.
A short diary entry with a sentence or two about a particular event missed, such as your first steps after surgery or maybe even your first bike ride along the Terry Gordon Bike Path after the injury, should be more than enough to recall those dark days when the time comes.
Avoid using social media while you have an active claim
Number three: avoid using social media.
This can be a hard trap to avoid, but trust me, if you make a personal injury claim or file a lawsuit, everyone from the insurance adjuster to the jurors will be checking out your profile.
While you can and should make your privacy settings as tight as possible, you are not allowed to delete or remove posts connected to the accident, your injury, or your recovery.
The courts interpret this rule very broadly, and if you don’t follow it, it can negatively impact your case. Your best bet is to avoid the subject altogether on social media.
Put your recovery first, not your injury claim.
Number four: focus on your recovery.
You shouldn’t be thinking about your injury claim in the days after an accident. On the other hand, you can and should create evidence such as photos of the scene and your condition.
The best thing you can do for yourself and your injury claim is to focus on your recovery. Follow the advice of your care providers. If they recommend a specialist, make the appointment. If they suggest home exercises, do them, and don’t miss appointments without a good reason.
Not only will you get better more quickly, but along the way, you’re proving to the insurance companies and maybe even a jury that you’re invested in getting well, which is good for your credibility.
Don’t make any statements to the other driver’s insurance
Number five: don’t talk to the other driver’s insurance adjuster unless necessary.
Insurance companies would have you believe they need to hear your side of the story to pay you fairly.
But in reality, they rarely use your statements as anything other than a reason to deny your claim or reduce the amount they pay you. Almost all insurance companies who pay car accident claims use computer programs, which input data from your medical records and the accident report to decide how much your claim is worth.
They aren’t interested in hearing from you about how hard it’s been. See my video and blog on talking to adjusters for more on this subject.
Chat with a local injury lawyer
Finally, a bonus tip number six, talk to an injury lawyer and give an injury lawyer a call. The consultation is usually free because we don’t get paid unless you do. Not every case is worth hiring a lawyer for, but you can get guidance and advice about your situation and how to make the most of it.
Summary: 5 Plattsburgh, NY accident tips
So there you have five tips if you’ve been in a car accident in Plattsburgh or Clinton County. I hope you found this information helpful. Give me a call if you’d like to discuss an injury claim or lawsuit.
