What to Do if You’re Injured in a Holiday Car Accident in Lincoln, Nebraska
The holiday season always involves higher volumes of travel than usual. With these higher travel rates comes more car accidents. Everyone in Nebraska should be aware of exactly how to handle a car accident should they find themselves in one during this peak season.
Getting Medical Help Immediately
Your first thought should be to call 911 and request medical help right away. Even if you don’t think your injuries are worth it, it’s important that you get checked and that there is as much documentation as possible. Thinking further down the line, medical records are what create necessary evidence that showcase how the injury was caused because of the accident.
Reporting the Accident and Gathering Evidence
Nebraska has a four-year statute of limitations when it comes to filing personal injury claims, which means that you want to report it to the police as soon as you can. The best way to cover all your bases is to take pictures at the scene, capture the road/weather conditions, and any traffic or skid marks that are visible throughout the accident.
Make sure you also obtain contact information from any other driver that was involved along with witnesses if at all possible. As stated before, winter weather conditions, especially in Nebraska, can worsen visibility on the road and should also be documented.
If for some reason you don’t report your accident while still at the scene, you can still report it later through the Nebraska DMV’s website.
Dealing with Insurance Companies
Despite the holidays, many insurance adjusters are quick to contact victims facing personal injury. Make sure you don’t admit fault or assume anything related to your accident if you get in contact with any adjuster. These types of statements made even unknowingly can be used against you to minimize or deny certain claims when the time comes. It’s also smart to speak to a qualified personal injury attorney before giving any recorded statements.
Understanding Liability in Holiday Car Accidents
Nebraska law requires drivers to operate using what they deem as reasonable care, despite bad weather. This means that even if the weather is at fault for an accident, the driver can still be held liable. Holiday crashes typically involve people who are drunk or impaired while driving along with speeding and failing to adjust to winter weather conditions. Being aware of all of these common types of accident causes only helps you prioritize not demonstrating them when you get behind the wheel.
Avoiding Mistakes After a Holiday Accident
There are common mistakes that might hurt your case that you should definitely avoid. Some of these include posting about your accident on social media, delaying your medical care, and failing to follow medical advice.
Even minor aches and pains should be evaluated since injuries can develop in the days following a crash. Delaying treatment gives insurance adjustors an excuse to claim that your injuries weren’t caused by the accident.
Finally, a main common mistake people make is speaking to insurance adjustors on a recorded line without speaking to their lawyer first. Adjusters are trained to ask questions that can lead to minimized payouts, especially during the busy holiday season when there is a higher number of accident claims.
All of these mistakes are more prone to happen during stressful and busy holiday periods when emotions are naturally heightened, so it’s even more crucial that you are aware of them and try to not engage in them.
Seeking Legal Help
Above all, getting the right legal team with experienced attorneys to support you during this difficult time is the best thing that you can do for yourself. That’s why Shasteen, Morris & Ockander PC is here to help you. If you’re struggling with a car accident in the Lincoln area, make sure you reach out as soon as possible for your free consultation.
