Never state that you are OK.
Never tell a police officer that you are OK after an auto accident. The correct response is, “I don’t really know.” Without a comprehensive examination by a medical professional, you will never really know if you have sustained an injury in a car crash.
Your body is pumped full of adrenaline after a crash. You may feel fine but still have sustained an injury. If you tell an officer that you are not injured, he will put this statement in his report. This report may later be used to deny an insurance claim or against you in court.
Know Tennessee’s Statute of Limitations.
Failure to visit a healthcare provider soon after an auto accident may not preclude a successful personal injury suit. Pursuant to Tennessee Code 28-3-104, an injured party must commence legal action within one year of when the injury accrued. You have a full year to file a suit if injured, even though it is better to do this sooner rather than later.
Soft tissue damage can start out as soreness. Given time, this injury can worsen until it manifests in real pain to the injured party. Further, an injured limb may stiffen up to a point where it is not fully functional. This gradual process can take place days or even weeks after a car accident has occurred.
Keep a record of your health.
After an automobile accident, pay close attention to your health. If something in your body feels unusual, record it. Not only will this record help in diagnosing and treating any potential injuries, but it will allow you to develop a timeline of your injury. This timeline can become important at trial if an insurance company refuses to pay accident-related expenses.
Keep a record of all your expenses.
Besides medical bills, other tertiary expenses stemming from an automobile accident can add up. Keep a mileage log for your trips to medical providers, keep parking garage receipts, and keep an accurate log of the number of hours you have to miss work. The clearer your ability to prove these expenses, the easier it will be to prove them if you have to go to court.
Consult with a personal injury attorney.
A personal injury lawyer’s job is not to provide his clients with a windfall of cash. Despite what TV shows and movies would have you believe, a personal injury lawyer’s job is to ensure that his clients receive fair and just compensation for their injuries.
Situations in which a client receives millions of dollars in compensation do not arise from an average personal injury lawsuit. Those types of cases typically involve some wrong-doing by a party which is so nefarious as to cause a jury or judge to award punitive damages. Damages tailored to impact the offending party in such a manner as to firmly dissuade future bad behavior.
Conclusion
Automobile accidents are never a great experience. If you are injured in an automobile accident, consult with a personal injury attorney. You deserve fair and just compensation. Policy holders pay insurance companies billions of dollars each year for protection against the potential of an accident. Make sure that you get what you are paying for.
