Extending Your Student Visa

A student visa that lets you study at the university of your choice is a terrific thing for you. But what happens if your studies take longer than you planned? On top of exams and term papers, you may have to worry about your student visa expiring. That’s where an immigration lawyer can be your best friend. Understanding how immigration laws work can be the first step to making sure that you keep your student visa in good standing. My blog is all about immigration issues, especially those faced by foreign students. Check out the articles for more information that you can use to complete your studies in the country you chose to study in.

5 Ways You Can Ruin Your Car Accident Settlement

Law Blog

Have you been injured in a car accident that was someone else's fault? If so, you deserve a settlement to pay for your medical bills and suffering. However, there are many ways you can ruin your car accident settlement. Check out these five mistakes to avoid.

Waiting to Seek Treatment

Even if the other driver is found completely responsible for the accident, you also have a duty. You are required to try and mitigate your injuries. Basically, this means you have to do what you can to ensure your injuries don't worsen, which means you should go to the doctor immediately. If you don't seek treatment, the insurance company can argue that your injuries are only bad because you didn't seek treatment. Even if you aren't sure whether you're injured, it's always a good idea to see your doctor after a car accident. If your doctor prescribes treatment, such as physical therapy, make sure to follow the treatment.

Waiting to File Your Claim

When you get into a car accident, whether it's your fault or not, you need to report it to your insurance carrier as soon as possible and file a claim. Waiting too long to file your claim could mean missing the deadline and giving up the chance of getting any settlement, even if you are legitimately injured. Similarly, even if your filing isn't outright rejected for being late, it may reflect poorly on you if you waited long to file. Most people who are injured in an accident want reimbursement quickly so they can seek treatment, so by waiting to file, you are inadvertently admitting your injuries aren't too bad.

Communicating With the Other Insurance Company

When you contact your insurance company to report the accident and file the claim, make sure you tell them everything that happened, and be honest. Even something small could drastically impact the case. On the other hand, you want to avoid talking to the other insurance company as much as possible. They will use any information you provide to try and push some or all the blame to you and your insurance carrier and reduce your settlement. Communicate with the other insurance carrier as little as possible, and don't sign anything without knowing what it is.

Turning Your Private Life Public

Social media is great for reaching people from across the world, but it is also a great way to turn your private life public. If you have a public social media account, anyone can see what you post, including pictures and information. This can be used against you by the other insurance carrier. For example, you may claim that a scar from the injury has affected your quality of life and made you depressed. The other insurance carrier can use photos of you having fun to argue you aren't as depressed as you claim to be. Whenever you are seeking a settlement of some kind, make your social media accounts private and avoid posting much.

Trying to Settle Alone

The biggest mistake is trying to settle alone. If you are trying to settle alone, you may be forced to talk to the other insurance carrier. Since you don't have the training of a professional lawyer, the insurance company may trick you into admitting something false or agreeing to a lower settlement. Your best bet is always to hire an auto accident attorney. They'll do all the work for you, such as contacting doctors, insurance carriers, filing paperwork, etc., and you get to focus solely on healing.  

Don't sabotage your car accident settlement with these five common mistakes. If you would like more information regarding accident laws and settlements, contact an auto accident attorney in your area today or check out websites like http://dlplawyers.com/.

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18 August 2017