Posted in Uncategorized
We understand that the moments, days, and weeks following an accident—whether it’s a car collision, a sudden slip, or a workplace injury—are overwhelming. Your body is recovering, your emotions are heightened, and the thought of navigating legal complexities often seems impossible. Our New Jersey car accident lawyer wants to be clear: your health and well-being should always be your absolute first priority.
However, once you are safe and your medical needs are addressed, there is an urgent timeline you need to be aware of. Delaying critical steps can seriously jeopardize your future settlement and undermine the maximum compensation you might be able to recover. Our team at the Law Offices of David A. DiBrigida is here to offer a straightforward, compassionate perspective on why moving swiftly is so important in protecting your legal position and securing necessary evidence.
The Problem of Lost Credibility and Insurance Doubt
One of the most unfortunate consequences of waiting too long is the damage it does to your credibility. When it comes time to speak with the insurance company handling your claim, a lengthy gap between the accident date and your first official action raises major red flags. Insurance adjusters are specifically trained to look for discrepancies in a victim’s account. They will likely ask, “Why did you wait so long?”. This line of questioning is used to suggest that your injuries weren’t serious enough to warrant immediate attention, or even worse, that they may have been caused by something else entirely. This kind of doubt introduced by the insurance company can seriously impact the amount of your settlement. We want you to secure your financial future, and that means protecting your account of events from day one.
Essential Actions That Can’t Wait
To protect your legal rights, there are specific pieces of documentation and evidence that demand swift attention.
- Review the Police Report Immediately: The police report serves as a vital piece of evidence in your case. In the chaos immediately following an accident, mistakes happen. The report may contain errors regarding the circumstances of the incident, specific details, or even the parties involved. These mistakes need to be corrected immediately, as waiting makes it significantly harder to amend these official documents. You must act quickly to ensure inaccuracies are not left lingering in your file.
- Secure Critical Witnesses: It is essential to think about anyone who saw the incident. These third-party accounts are invaluable to supporting your claim. The longer you wait, the harder it becomes to track people down, as critical witnesses may be hard to find later. Getting their contact information and accounts while the memory is fresh ensures you have objective support for your case.
- Document the Scene and Your Injuries: Photos are concrete evidence that cannot be ignored. You need to capture images of the accident scene, including any hazardous conditions or vehicle damage. Furthermore, you must take photos of your injuries. Scenes change quickly—debris is cleared, skid marks fade, and weather shifts. Documenting your injuries early provides a clear baseline, effectively proving the immediate impact of the trauma.
The Need for Proper Medical Treatment
Even if you feel okay right after the accident, seeking prompt medical attention is paramount. You need the proper medical treatment in order to document your injuries and establish a paper trail. We frequently hear from people saying, “I didn’t feel any pain immediately following the accident,” and please know that this is not a problem. You are not alone, as this delayed onset of symptoms has happened and is still happening a lot today. It is very common for stiffness, pain, or discomfort to take hours, days, or weeks before you start to realize that something is not right.
However, even with delayed symptoms, establishing a clear paper trail is absolutely key for your claim. If you are experiencing discomfort now, take the time to think if you are feeling differently since the accident. While your health is your first priority and reporting the accident can sometimes come days or even weeks after, delaying medical treatment once symptoms appear is risky and can undermine your case. Medical records are crucial because they directly connect your pain to the trauma of the accident, which is vital evidence against an insurance company that is actively looking for reasons to doubt your claim. By taking these essential steps quickly, and contacting the Law Offices of David A. DiBrigida, you protect your legal position and secure the evidence needed to achieve a successful settlement.
