No one likes to think about being injured in a car accident. However, after years of experience in personal injury law, our attorneys always encourage everyone to prepare for the worst-case scenario. Each year, an estimated 6 million car accidents occur in the United States, injuring more than 3 million people. Though many of these injured parties could be entitled to damages, the complexities of civil litigation make recovering fair compensation particularly challenging. Protecting your rights is essential--and hiring a highly skilled lawyer can help.
Consulting an Injury Attorney as Soon as Possible Could Help You Avoid Costly Mistakes
At Skeeters, Bennett, Wilson & Humphrey, our Central Kentucky injury lawyers work tirelessly to help car accident clients avoid errors that could compromise their claims. Unfortunately, we often meet with prospective clients who've made substantial mistakes in their cases before coming to us. The most common misstep? Failing to get vital information from accident eyewitnesses. Don't make the same mistake.
Protecting Your Right to Recovery After a Central Kentucky Car Crash
While it is understandable that the trauma of a wreck can cause stress and panic, it's important to be proactive. Shutting down and having a "handle it later" attitude can doom an insurance claim or lawsuit before you've even filed. Should you ever find yourself in an accident, the obvious first step is to assess the seriousness of any injuries and seek medical attention if needed. The next step is getting all witnesses' contact information, including names, phone numbers, and addresses.
Should you decide to hire a lawyer after your accident, witnesses are often crucial to the case, especially if the insurance company is denying liability. Third-party witnesses do not have a stake in the outcome and can be powerful advocates for you in negotiating with an insurance company or at trial. Far too many times, though, we see injury clients fail to get even basic information from people who saw the accident. Without names and contact information, it is very difficult for your lawyers to get in touch with witnesses and learn what they know about the crash. The cost and length of litigation increase while any likely monetary recovery decreases. Don't let this happen to you or your case. If you're injured in an automobile accident, don’t forget to get the contact information of those present. It can make all the difference in your case.