Side-impact collisions can cause severe, even fatal injuries. If you got hurt or a loved one died from injuries sustained in a T-bone collision, a vehicle collision attorney can help. You do not have to go through this alone.
The Kryder Law Group, LLC, can go after compensation for your losses. You might be eligible for money damages that you do not know about, which is one reason why you do not want to try to handle your injury claim without a lawyer.
An Elgin side-impact collisions lawyer can protect your right to compensation. You can call us today for a free case evaluation.
Injuries in Side-Impact Collisions
Side-impact collisions include when a vehicle gets hit on the side by another vehicle and when a car crashes into an external object, like a tree or a telephone pole. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) requires motor vehicle manufacturers to meet federal guidelines designed to protect vehicle occupants from the head and chest injuries that are common in side-impact crashes.
Side-impact collisions can lead to catastrophic and fatal injuries because the full force of one vehicle’s front end impacts with the side of another car, where there is no bumper or fender to protect the occupant.
What Can Cause a Side-Impact Collision
Some side-impact crashes happen when a driver runs a red light or fails to stop at an intersection with a stop sign. Failing to yield the right of way when merging is another scenario that leads to side-impact collisions.
Five Pitfalls That Could Hurt Your Injury Claim
When you get hurt in a side-impact collision, you may want to avoid doing things that could decrease the monetary value of your injury claim. Here are some mistakes people make that can cause them to get less money than they might otherwise receive:
Delay in Getting Medical Attention
You should go straight to the emergency room, urgent care, or doctor’s office (whichever is appropriate in your situation), after getting hurt in a collision. Some injuries—like head trauma or internal bleeding—can take a while to develop symptoms, and then your condition could escalate rapidly. If you were in a significant crash, you should get a physical examination, even if you do not show indications of harm.
Your medical records will be vital evidence to link your injuries to the side-impact collision. It can be more challenging to prove that the wreck caused the harm you suffered if you do not get medical attention right away.
Settling Before Completing Medical Treatment
The insurance company might pressure you to settle your injury claim when you approach the end of your initial medical treatment. It can be tempting to accept the offer, especially if you have been unable to work, and you have a stack of bills to pay.
The risk of resolving your claim before you complete the treatment your doctor prescribes is that you do not yet know what your final outcome will be. When you visit the doctor for the follow-up, you might discover that you need additional intervention, like surgery, or you might have a long-term impairment. Once you settle, the insurer will not pay you more money.
The Kryder Law Group, LLC, can protect you from such situations. You can call us today for a no-cost analysis of your injury claim.
Posting on Social Media
The insurance company can take anything that you post on social media and use it out of context to try to show that you are not injured as significantly as you claim. An innocent comment or photograph could sabotage the value of your case.
From the time of the side-impact collision, until the case gets entirely resolved, you should stay off of social media. Your personal injury lawyer can answer your questions about social media. When in doubt, do not post anything online. Many people think they can post whatever they want if they restrict access through the privacy settings, but doing so does not always protect them.
Trusting the Insurance Adjuster
The insurance adjuster is not going to tell you what your case is worth. His job is to pay you as little money as possible. People who try to handle their personal injury claims without the advice and guidance of an attorney often accept a lowball settlement offer without realizing that they deserve much more money for their losses.
When you reach a settlement, you have to sign legal documents, including a waiver that states that you can never again seek money from the insurer for your losses from that accident.
Waiting Too Long to Take Legal Action
You only have a short time to file a lawsuit seeking compensation for your losses. Having an ongoing claim with the at-fault party’s insurance carrier does not satisfy the rule. If you miss the deadline, the law can prevent you from ever seeking money damages. Insurers know this rule, so they might deceive you into thinking that they are about to settle your claim, and then stop responding to your calls as soon as the time limit passes.
Getting Legal Help from an Elgin Side-Impact Collision Attorney
At the Kryder Law Group, LLC, we are passionate about helping people who sustained severe injuries because someone else was not following the rules of the road. You did not ask to get hurt. We want to hold the person who turned your life upside-down responsible for the damage they did to your life and health.
You do not have to pay up front legal fees to get our help. Our Elgin side-impact collision lawyers handle cases on a contingency-fee-basis. Our fees come out of the settlement proceeds or the award at the end of the matter.
You can call us today for a free consultation. There is no obligation.
(312) 223-1700