It just happened. They ran their vehicle into you (or maybe you ran into them)! Regardless – the car accident you were just in left you unsettled. It is upsetting, embarrassing, and an inconvenience. Even though this just happened, you know that this is going to cost you time and money. You have to get your vehicle fixed, treat for your injuries, make up for lost wages, and deal with an insurance company. Your time, money, and health are clearly in jeopardy.
Was it just a matter of time?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, around 13 car accidents occur every minute. Millions of car accidents occur each year in the United States alone. Even though cars are being made safer every year, all but six U.S. states reported increases in traffic deaths from 2020 to 2021. Despite technological innovations drivers continue to operate vehicles distracted, exhausted, and under the influence. Simply said, car accidents – big or small – are bound to happen.
Will the insurance company help me?
Insurance companies are not designed to make accident victims whole. Insurance companies spend millions of dollars a year to persuade the driving public about what to do when an accident occurs. Insurance companies spend this type of money because they have a preferred sequencethey want accident victims to follow. This sequence is designed to allow insurance companies to control the post-accident recovery as quickly as possible. This early access to the accident victim allows the insurance companies to reduce their exposure, keep payouts as low as possible, and resolve situations quickly before an accident victim has the opportunity to properly access their injuries and unique circumstances.
After an accident, the typical insurance company guidance reads as follows:
Check yourself and others for injuries
Summon emergency services in the event of severe injuries or death
When advisable move vehicles and passengers out of harm’s way to stay safe
Contact the police
Exchange IDs and insurance information
Take photos, videos, and witness statements and gather contact information
Contact your insurance company and report the accident
Report the accident to your state’s DMW
Something really big is missing from the standard list:
Where is “contact an attorney”? Insurance companies keep “get a lawyer” off their lists because that is for your advantage, not theirs, and they know it.
It does not exist in their world, but it should! It should be on every one of their lists. They have their attorneys. They have their doctors and experts telling them what a case’s actual value is. They even have preferred or “certified” repair shops they want to send your car to.
You have not contacted an attorney and have no idea that you are about to go against an army of “accident veterans” that work for the insurance company. Do not get it twisted – the insurance company adjuster that sounds like your friend, works for the insurance company. When you report your accident to the insurance company, you allow them to get ahead, move first, and seize any leverage you, an unrepresented party, amy have.
They already started documentation on you. They ask (or have already asked) for statements. You will be on the record with information about what happened. And they played you from the very start when they first asked “Are you okay? Was anyone else hurt?” A common response after the adrenaline rush of a car accident is “I am fine.” In fact, it is very common to feel the actual physical, mental, and emotional impact of an accident days or weeks after the actual accident.
Insurance companies know that accidents happen daily. Despite their shared knowledge and the statistics at their disposal, the last thing insurance companies want is that an accident victim to find an experienced attorney. Insurance companies know the right attorney will get you the compensation that you deserve.
Is “Contact an experienced attorney” on YOUR list?
Calling an attorney after an accident needs to be at the top of your list. Having an attorney involved from day one can make all the difference. Did you know an attorney can actually report the car accident to your insurance company for you? They can also contact the DMW and other parties on your behalf. Why risk missteps and errors when you could have proven accident response professionals working on your behalf from day one?
What if you already reported an accident to your insurance company or started the process without an attorney? A good personal injury lawyer like Morris Chichyan, founder of Chichyan Law APC, will gather up the loose strings and proceed to fight on your behalf.
Morris Chichyan is an honest and hardworking attorney who treats every client like his only client. Do not allow the insurance companies to take advantage of you and call Morris today at 818-488-9448 or send him an e-mail at morris@chichyanlaw.com.
