If your child has been injured in an accident, there are 10 things that our child accident lawyers think parents must know in order to maximize their child’s recovery.
1. Seek treatment immediately
Go to your family physician or to the emergency room to make sure that your child gets the treatment that is necessary to recover from the injuries suffered in the accident.
2. Don’t rush to settle your child’s claim quickly
It is likely that insurance adjusters will contact you within days of your child’s accident but it is imperative that you do not settle a claim with them. Settling a claim quickly can result in you agree to an amount of money that will barely even cover your child’s medical expenses. Hiring an attorney will help you receive the settlement that your child deserves.
3. Don’t underestimate the insurance adjusters
Insurance adjusters are professionals who handle cases like this for a living. Their goal is to provide the lowest possible settlement from the insurance company. If you have professionals working against your child, don’t you think that you need one working for you? A personal injury attorney can help you protect your child’s rights and receive the settlement that you deserve.
4. Do not provide a statement to the adjuster
Insurance adjusters are going to want you to provide a statement regarding your child’s accident but you should not. Making statements can come back to haunt you later on in the case. You should contact a personal injury attorney to represent your child and allow them to deal with the insurance adjusters throughout the process.
5. Do not sign any medical authorization forms
Do not sign any forms that have not been looked at our prepared by your child’s personal injury attorney. This is yet another reason that you need an experienced attorney to represent your child, protecting their rights.
6. Document everything connected to your child’s case
Keep every bill, police report, and document that is connected to your child’s claim. Keeping records will allow you to easily show the result of the injuries and to be prepared when the insurance company requests to see the evidence.
7. Be honest about your child’s injuries
Be honest when you make claims about your child’s injuries. If you exaggerate your child’s injuries, it could ruin your case in the end.
8. Do not hide information from your lawyer
You must disclose everything regarding your child’s case to your lawyer. They cannot help you if you do not give them all of the information. This includes the good, the bad, and the embarrassing facts. Being honest will only allow your lawyer to prepare better for your child’s case.
9. Do not exaggerate the impact of your child’s injury
If you exaggerate the extent of your child’s injury and the insurance company documents evidence later on of your child participating in an activity that they shouldn’t be able to, your child’s case could be over. Do not play games when dealing with your child’s injury case.
10. Hire an experienced personal injury attorney
It is important to hire an attorney who is experienced in personal injury cases. You want someone representing you that know this area of the law inside and out so they can help your child receive the best possible settlement. You will want to best possible candidate to represent your child as they go up against the insurance company.
If you need the help of a personal injury lawyer in Virginia with this type of a case in Fairfax, City of Fairfax, Prince William (Manassas), Fauquier (Warrenton), Loudoun (Leesburg), Caroline, Stafford, Spotsylvania, Chesterfield, Henrico, Arlington, Richmond, Alexandria, Warren (Front Royal), Clarke, Shenandoah, King George, Charles City, Frederick, Fredericksburg, Gloucester, Hanover, Hopewell, James City, King & Queen, King William, New Kent, Newport News, Petersburg, Prince George, Rappahannock or York, call our law firm immediately for help and speak to a lawyer about your options.