PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS IN YORBA LINDA, CA

Insurance companies are for-profit companies, so minimizing payouts is in their best interest. You can count on the insurance company to have a team of attorneys and adjusters investigating the accident and looking for ways to minimize your claim. Representing yourself while trying to recover from your injuries is not only overwhelming but risky for your claim. 

A lawyer levels the playing field and will handle all communications and negotiations with the insurance company on your behalf. Your attorney will investigate the accident, gather evidence, and build you a strong claim. They will fight for you and ensure you do not accept anything less than you need and deserve to move forward after a serious accident.

We recommend contacting a Yorba Linda personal injury attorney as soon as possible after you have been involved in an accident or suffered an injury due to someone else's negligence. From the beginning, an attorney can help you understand your legal rights, options, and next steps for protecting and building your claim. If you have a viable claim, an attorney can help protect you from inadvertently hurting your claim and accepting an offer that is less than you need and deserve.

After an accident, there are several things you should avoid doing to protect your potential personal injury claim and maximize your chances of receiving fair compensation. A few tips from our Yorba Linda personal injury attorneys include:

• Avoid delaying medical treatment. Seek medical attention as soon as possible after the accident, even if you feel fine. Some injuries may not be apparent immediately, and the adrenaline rush from your accident may be masking your symptoms. Delaying treatment can not only harm your health but also hurt your case. The insurance company may claim that your injuries must not have been serious, are pre-existing, or occurred due to something else.
• Do not admit fault. Even if you think you may be partially responsible for the accident, do not admit fault at the scene or with the insurance companies. Apologizing or speculating about how the accident happened can be used against you. Liability is often complex and requires investigation.
• Avoid social media. The insurance company will try to use anything you post on social media as evidence to minimize your claim, including taking the information you post and taking it out of context. Because of this risk, you should avoid posting pictures or discussing the accident, your injuries, or your activities online. We recommend avoiding social media altogether through the resolution of your case. We also recommend asking your family and friends to avoid posting about you and the accident.
• Do not accept the first settlement. Insurance companies may offer a quick settlement soon after the accident. This is a tactic they use to close claims quickly and minimize their payouts. While it may be tempting to accept, these initial offers are often far less than what your case is worth. Once you accept a settlement, you cannot ask for more money later should you have more medical care or damages due to the accident. Therefore, you should consult with an attorney before signing a settlement agreement.