Navigating the aftermath of a car wreck can be overwhelming as you assess the situation and determine what to do next. Be very careful about what you say to the insurance company, as they could use that information against you to reduce your compensation. Plus, dealing with them only adds to the stress, especially when they offer a quick settlement. Let’s explore some common mistakes people make when dealing with insurance companies and how to avoid them. Car Crash Confusion COMMON PITFALLS TO AVOID AFTER AN ACCIDENT
MANIC MEDIC How a Doctor Planned to Resurrect George Washington Fans of deathbed dramas can hardly ask for a more harrowing tale than the story of an overconfident doctor who tried to resurrect George Washington. As the former president lay dying in December of 1799, Dr. William Thornton raced to Washington’s Mount Vernon home in hopes of reaching him before he passed away, according to “Washington’s End,” a 2020 book by historian and White House speechwriter Jonathan Horn. Washington had been both a friend and benefactor to Thornton. A classic product of the Enlightenment, Thornton was a brilliant polymath considered a genius in his time. He was born in the British West Indies and attended medical school in Scotland before gaining American citizenship. Washington selected Thornton’s design for the U.S. Capitol. Upon arriving at Mount Vernon, Thornton was shocked to see the president’s corpse, frozen solid from the frigid winter temperatures and surrounded by grieving family and friends. The situation did not stop the doctor from hatching a bold plan to revive him. Thornton had studied numerous cases of people who were revived after appearing to be dead. He was an early advocate of the medical technique of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to revive victims of near-drownings. Before Washington died, he had suffered a series of tortuous medical treatments for a bad throat infection, including numerous bloodlettings, throat poultices, enemas, and purgatives. Thornton recalled cases he had read about fish being revived after freezing and proposed to thaw Washington’s corpse in cold water, restore air to his body by performing a tracheotomy, and replace the blood drained by the doctors with lamb’s blood. If a lack of air and loss of blood had killed the president, then restoring them and warming the body should revive him, Thornton reasoned. None of Washington’s grieving family and friends supported Thornton’s idea. They recalled the former president’s deathbed instructions to the doctors attending him at the time, “I pray you to take no more trouble about me; let me go off quietly.” Ultimately, the president’s instructions were honored. Despite Thornton’s effort to have his body transported to the Capitol for burial, they granted Washington’s final wish: He was permanently interred at his Mount Vernon home.
Don’t admit fault. After your accident, you’ll talk to many people, from police officers to the other party involved in the crash. Though you may feel shaken, it’s important never to admit fault for the accident, especially to the insurance company. Their bottom line is to pay you the
smallest amount they can, and they will use your statements as
evidence that you are responsible for the damages. They can even twist an apology into proof that you are at fault. Talk to a lawyer before you speak with the insurance company.
Don’t settle too quickly. While taking the first settlement offer from the insurance company may be tempting, understand that it is typically the lowest amount the company can justify paying the victim. Insurance companies try to settle claims quickly, and if you accept their offer too soon, you may not receive the full compensation you’re entitled to. At this point, you probably don’t know what all your medical costs will be. Once you sign and accept that offer, your case is essentially closed. Don’t avoid the doctor. Even if you don’t believe you are seriously injured, you should seek medical attention immediately after a wreck. For one, you may not know the full extent of your injuries or what treatment you’ll need down the road. Additionally, the insurance company may look at a delay in medical care as evidence your injury wasn’t very serious or concerning. The longer you wait for a doctor’s evaluation, the harder it will be to link injuries directly to the accident. Remember, the insurance company is not on your side — they aim to minimize your payout. One of the best steps after an accident is to contact a lawyer. Contact the Packard Law Firm today if you need help after a wreck!
– Michael Packard
2 PACKARDFIRM.COM
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