After two years of large increases in the number of fatal car crashes, the most recent data from 2017 shows that highway fatality numbers are down slightly—by two percent. Preliminary data from the first six months of 2018 also appear to show the downward trend continuing.
Unfortunately, over 37,000 people still died in motor vehicle accidents in 2017, with more fatalities occurring in urban areas than rural ones for the second year in a row. Deadly accidents involving combination trucks increased by 5.8 percent, while dangerous behaviors like speeding, distracted driving, and driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol continued to put many Americans at risk.
Getting into a car accident is a stressful experience for anyone, but for some, it can be a devastating one. Victims suffer from serious and often life-altering injuries. Some, even more traumatically, lose people they care about and can have their lives completely turned upside down.
It can be overwhelming to try to deal with the physical and emotional repercussions of a serious accident, say nothing of the hospital stays, medical treatments, staggering medical bills, and lost wages. All of these combined can be enough to put any family into serious jeopardy, sometimes for years to come.
When your life is unhinged because of someone else’s negligence, it’s not right for you to have to pay the damages. The experienced auto accident attorneys at Chaffin Luhana are dedicated to helping you recover the compensation you need to put your life back together.
What You Should Do After a Car Accident
After an auto accident occurs, there are certain steps you can take to protect yourself and your family’s future:
See a doctor: Even if you think you’re okay, you should see a doctor immediately after the accident. That way, you have a record of your injuries you can use as part of your claim. It’s also important to realize that some injuries take time to show up. Your body is full of adrenaline after an accident, which can camouflage pain and other problems that aren’t immediately evident. Injuries like whiplash, back pain, and neck pain commonly take hours to days to develop symptoms, so it’s best to play it safe.
Contact your insurance company: You do have to tell your insurance company about the accident to get the compensation you deserve, but we advise you to be cautious about what you say, or better yet, hire an attorney to call for you. The only thing you’re obligated to reveal is the basic information about the accident, including who was involved and where it occurred. Never admit fault, and don’t agree to give a recorded statement. That way you’re protected later on when seeking the recovery you deserve.
Contact your lawyer: The earlier you contact your car accident lawyer, the better. We can step in and take care of the details you shouldn’t have to worry about. We manage the communications not only with the insurance companies, but with automakers, construction companies, and any other potential negligent parties that are likely to have teams of lawyers working for them. Meanwhile, we take no money from you unless we get you compensation.
Keep quiet: One mistake many people make after an auto accident is to talk about it on social media, or in social situations. If you say something that could damage your case, the other side may be able to use it against you to show that you were at fault, or that you weren’t as injured as you said you were. Say nothing except to your attorney, your doctor, and your family, and warn them to keep the details to themselves until the case is resolved.
Don’t admit fault: As noted above, it’s important not to admit to anything. Even if you suspect you may have been partially at fault, allow your attorney to conduct a thorough investigation. There may have been other factors you didn’t even consider, including road and intersection design, construction area management, the condition of the vehicles involved, the other driver’s history, and more. We look out for your best interests—all you have to do is allow us to do that.
Refer any other questions to your attorney: If you get calls from other parties, including the other driver’s insurance company, refer them to your attorney. You are not obligated to tell them anything.
Don’t agree to a settlement: Insurance companies are looking out only for their own business interests. That means they will try to pay you the least amount possible. Don’t discuss a settlement until you check with your auto accident attorney, or you could start down the path of settling for much less than you deserve.