Helping You Manage the Value of Your Accident Claim - By: Corey Walker

Right after an accident there are many steps taken that can both form your claim correctly and give you a good base for a claim. On the other hand, if things aren't taken care of properly you may damage your claim. Even after the accident there are many things that need to be done in order to keep a good claim going so it doesn't lose value.

If you are in a car accident, you will more than likely have to deal with the insurance company at some point. You may not know what the next step is or what to do after you have started your personal injury claim. Listed below are a few tips on how to deal with your claim:

1. REVIEW AND UNDERSTAND DOCUMENTS BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO SIGN THEM: It is very important that you review any documents sent to you before deciding if you will sign them. We have had clients come to us after they have mistakenly signed a release of their claim. We had to tell them that they agreed to settle their case for a small amount of money and there was nothing that could be done, because they had already signed the release. You should not sign documents you don't understand; they may affect your case.

2. DO NOT MISREPRESENT YOUR LEVEL OF ACTIVITY: Insurance companies routinely hire private investigators to conduct videotape surveillance. If you claim that you cannot run, climb, or stoop and you get caught on videotape doing these things it can be very damaging to your case. Also, if you use any social networking sites or social media, be careful what you post as this could possibly be seen by someone on the defense side as well.

3. BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY: The insurance company and their lawyers will use anything and everything you tell them against you. DO NOT LIE, no matter what. Telling a small lie can ruin your credibility. The best policy is to always tell the truth, that way you won't have to worry about you have said.

4. KEEP A DIARY AND RECORD ANY WAGE LOSS: Few people ever think of writing down how they feel when they are going through an injury. You need to remember the details of your injury and how you felt on a day to day basis while you were recovering. A diary helps to provide accurate accounts of your injuries and how they affected your ability to function on a daily basis which can mean a higher evaluation of your claim

It is also important to keep track of any time you missed from work this includes keeping doctor excuses for missed work and the time you missed work for doctors' appointments.

5. DO NOT HIDE PAST ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES FROM YOUR ATTORNEY: You should be up front and honest with your attorney about any injuries or accidents that occurred before or after this accident.

If you saw a doctor or other healthcare provider, then there is record of the visit and the insurance company will find it.

When you begin a case, the other side (insurance company or defense attorney) will want to know about your prior injuries and how many prior accidents you have been in. Even though it's likely they already have access to this information, they will ask you to test your credibility.

If you have been in a prior accident or had any kind of previous injury, your attorney can investigate this and determine if it will be a problem in your current case or not. Your attorney can't help you with things he or she doesn't know. If you disclose everything from the beginning your attorney will know all the details and how to handle your case from the start. If you chose not to tell your attorney and you misrepresent your medical or accident history, then you can severely damage your case.

About the Author

If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident then you can request my FREE Book. Why offer a Free Book? Over the past 11 years I have represented hundreds of Iowans injured in car accidents and too many have made mistakes before they had the "right" information costing them thousands of dollars. Quantities are limited so go to http://www.IowaCarAccidentBook.com .

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Corey-Walker/34178

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