5 Auto Accident Claim Mistakes to Avoid

Auto Accident Claim Mistakes to Avoid

Auto Accident Claim Mistakes to Avoid

Car accidents can be frustrating, disorienting and damaging. After an auto wreck happens, however, taking certain steps – and avoiding some mistakes – can be pivotal to financially recovering and moving on with your life.

While we have previously discussed some of the important things to do after a motor vehicle accident, below are some of the most common – and costly – mistakes to avoid following a crash if you are serious about protecting a claim for compensation.

When Filing an Auto Accident Claim, Avoid:

  1. Waiting too long before reporting the crash to the insurance company – This can be a mistake because some auto insurance policies may have firm provisions regarding deadlines for reporting traffic accidents. Missing these deadlines could complicate a claim. In some cases, it may even provide insurers with the opportunity to reduce claim payouts later.
  2. Admitting fault for the accident – Regardless of whether these admissions are accidental, admitting blame for a crash can significantly reduce the value of a claim, if not make you fully liable for compensating other parties involved in the crash. So, avoid making any such admissions to the other drivers, police or witnesses at the accident scene, and even insurance companies.
  3. Providing a formal statement to the insurance company before you are ready – Formal statements, which are commonly recorded, can be used by insurers at any point in the future to try to devalue or even deny an auto accident claim. So, don’t succumb to pressure to make these statements until you are fully ready to discuss the facts of the crash.
  4. Believing that the insurance company is on your side – This is a big mistake because insurance companies are not on victims’ sides following traffic crashes. Instead, insurers are generally looking out for themselves and their bottom line. And this commonly means that they will be looking for ways to reduce or deny these claims, rather than facilitating appropriate payouts.
  5. Accepting settlement offers without having a lawyer review them first – Although auto accident victims may need financial support ASAP, accepting the first settlement offered by insurers can be another big mistake because these offers can be substantially less than the compensation victims may be entitled to. So, never make a decision about a settlement offer without first consulting a lawyer, who can review the terms of the offer and let you know if it’s in your best interests to accept, negotiate or deny the offer.

Contact Littleton & Englewood Attorney D.J. Banovitz

If you have been hurt in an auto accident, contact Littleton & Englewood Attorney D.J. Banovitz for honest answers about your options for compensation and justice. Since 1994, Attorney D.J. Banovitz has been dedicated to zealously representing people injured in motor vehicle accidents, protecting their rights and working diligently to help them secure the best possible outcomes to their case.

To discuss your potential case and options for justice, contact Attorney D.J. Banovitz by calling (303) 300-5060 or by sending our firm an email via the contact form on this page.

From offices based in Englewood, Colorado, Attorney D.J. Banovitz provides the highest quality representation to injured people throughout Arapahoe County, Denver County, Douglas County and the state of Colorado.

D.J. Banovitz’ career has always concentrated on trial practice and he has litigated hundreds of cases. His passion and sole career focus has been to seek justice for people suffering from personal injuries as the result of someone else’s negligence. The hallmark of the Law Office of D.J. Banovitz, is the total commitment to professionalism, quality, and personalized care of your injury case. D.J. has dedicated his professional life to helping those most in need and is a proud and active member of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association. His experience includes volunteering for Colorado Rural Legal Services in Montrose, the Colorado Aids Project, consumer law, family law, criminal defense, and Alternative Defense Counsel for juveniles in Denver.