Being Involved in an Auto Accident
Life is complicated enough without car accidents. After an auto accident, it can get much more difficult. With physical injuries, emotional trauma, medical bills, lost time from work, lost time from family and leisure activities. In addition, there can be property damage, and you have to deal with the immediate calls from several insurance adjusters (a medical benefit or “PIP” adjuster from your own Kansas insurance company, a property damage adjuster, and the insurance adjuster for the other side). Recovering from and dealing with an automobile accident can be one of the most difficult things that one can go through in life. Luckily, the attorneys of Mann Wyatt Tanksley Injury Attorneys in Kansas City are here to help.
There are a few key steps that an auto accident victim can take to facilitate their physical and emotional recovery, as well as begin establishing their case for just compensation against the at-fault driver and their insurance company in Kansas City.
First and foremost, make sure that you are getting the medical treatment that you need for your injuries. If you have a Kansas auto insurance policy, that means that you have personal injury protection (“PIP”) benefits with at least $4,500.00 in coverage to pay for your basic medal care after the accident. These benefits should be paid without regard to fault, and they must be paid before any other sources of insurance are applicable. If you are in pain, always ask for thorough diagnostic testing. For moderate to severe spine (back and neck) Pain, always insist on an MRI to properly diagnose any vertebral disk herniations, bulging, or tears that are common in automobile accidents. Many Kansas City physicians will not order an MRI until initial conservative treatment is complete. However, persistence pays in persuading your physician to order the proper diagnostic testing and diagnose any spinal injuries early.
Next, don’t give any statements or talk to the at-fault driver’s insurance company before you talk to an experienced personal injury lawyer in Kansas City. The insurance adjusters are trained to call you or meet you in an attempt to befriend you and develop a rapport so that you do not retain a Kansas attorney. They will often tell you that they will take care of your medical expenses and settle your lost wages and pain and suffering claim later. What they are really trying to do is settle your case for your medical expenses plus a few thousand dollars. This is usually far less then your case is worth. When the insurance company asks to take your statement, they are not taking it for your benefit! All they are trying to do is procure recorded testimony by you that may hurt your case. The insurance adjuster is trained to ask you meeting questions and get you to admit facts that do not help your case. For example, the adjuster may try to get you to admit that you were not fully paying attention, listening to music inside of your car, or talking to other passengers at the time of the collision. The intent is to get you to say that you are not injured, or that you will not have long-term injuries as a result of the car collision.
Finally, another simple and crucial step in seeking to protect your rights after an automobile collision is to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer. The lawyer should be able to tell you your basic rights, a plan for protecting those rights, and make sure that you were getting the appropriate treatment for your injuries and pain. The attorney can also help you with the medical application process and take steps to investigate the case early on that may win you the case later. The attorney will contact the various insurance companies so that the insurance company calls to you stop. His office will also make sure that your medical records and medical billing invoices are being collected and kept track of for the demand for compensation to the insurance company.
Mann Wyatt Tanksley Injury Attorneys are Here to Help
If you’ve been injured in an auto accident in the Kansas City area, don’t delay in taking steps to preserve your case and your right to compensation. Call Mann Wyatt Tanksley Injury Attorneys anytime at 877-768-2400, or the firm cell phone at 620-931-8227 during evenings and weekends.
Our firm has over 40 years of litigation and trial experience, and we have handled thousands of cases for injury victims throughout Kansas City, and the Midwest. Take advantage of our firm’s experience, integrity, and track record of results.
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