If you’ve been in an accident, you have many rights.  Unfortunately, many accident victims don’t know all their rights, and as a result, they receive much less compensation than they’re entitled to obtain. Knowing the following rights, and having a lawyer on your side, are the two most important things you can do to ensure you receive the maximum compensation that you deserve.

6 Important Rights To Know If You Are In An Accident

Here are some of the key rights you need to know if you’re in an accident.

  1. The right to consult your lawyer before talking to an insurance company.  Anything you say after an accident can be used against you, so consult your lawyer before talking to an insurance company.  Insurance adjusters will likely try to get recorded statements from you about the accident and your injuries, and use these against you later to deny your claim or lower the value of it.  Talking to your lawyer before giving a statement can prevent this from happening to you.
  2. The right to receive fair compensation for your injuries and losses.  Accident victims can obtain compensation for many things, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and costs to fix or replace damaged property.  Obtaining all the damages you’re entitled to receive puts you in a much better position for the future – if you have more medical bills and lost wages after your claim is settled, you’ll have already been compensated for this and won’t bear these costs yourself.
  3. The right to choose your medical care.  If you are in an accident, you have the right to choose your doctor. Don’t let the other side or an insurance company pressure you to see their doctor. Select the doctor you think is best.
  4. The right to learn about the other side’s insurance.  Whoever caused the accident may not have enough money or property to pay your damages, but may have insurance that covers your losses. You have the right to get information about this insurance.
  5. The right to compensation even if you partly caused the accident.  In most states, accident victims have the right to compensation even if the accident was partly their fault.  Generally, your damages will just be reduced by the amount of your fault.
  6. The right to accept or reject settlement offers.  Your lawyer will try to get the best settlement offer for you, but the decision to accept a settlement or reject it and go to trial is up to you.  Just because an insurance company or someone else says this is their best and final offer, doesn’t mean you must accept it.

These are some of the key rights of accident victims.  Exercising them will help you receive the maximum compensation for your injuries and losses.  If you have any questions about your legal rights after an accident, ask your lawyer.  Your lawyer is truly on your side and is the best person to answer questions you have about legal rights.

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Barry R. Rabovsky only represents injured individuals and their families. With more than 29 years of experience as a personal injury attorney in the Chicago metropolitan area, he is well known and highly regarded. He is an aggressive, skilled trial lawyer with a reputation for excellence that makes his retention a key to success in complex, adversarial personal injury proceedings. Contact Barry today toll-free at (800) 822-4321 for a free, no-obligation consultation.