Car accidents are chaotic. One moment you’re commuting or running errands—next, you’re facing pain, property damage, hospital visits, and relentless insurance adjusters. In this swirl of stress, many accident victims unknowingly make critical mistakes that severely damage their legal and financial outcomes.
At AK Injury Law Firm, we’ve seen how innocent missteps—like talking too freely with an insurance company or delaying medical care—can cost victims tens of thousands of dollars. Our founder, Dr. Azadeh Keshavarz, brings a powerful dual perspective to personal injury law. As a former doctor of chiropractic, she’s treated accident victims firsthand. As an attorney, she knows exactly how insurance companies exploit your uncertainty.
Let’s break down the top mistakes accident victims make—and how to avoid them using smart, strategic legal thinking.
1. Talking to the Insurance Company Without Legal Counsel
The Mistake:
Many people mistakenly assume the insurance company is there to help. They speak freely during calls, make casual comments like “I’m feeling better,” or provide recorded statements—thinking they’re simply cooperating.
Why It’s Dangerous:
Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize payouts. Anything you say—no matter how harmless it sounds—can and will be used against you later. Even a small contradiction in your statement can be twisted to devalue your injuries.
What to Do Instead:
Politely decline to make a recorded statement. Refer all communication to your attorney. Let a strategic legal team like AK Injury Law handle the insurance conversations for you. We don’t just push paperwork—we anticipate their moves and outsmart them at every turn.
2. Delaying Medical Treatment
The Mistake:
Many accident victims don’t feel pain right away. They might skip the ER or delay seeing a doctor, hoping it’ll pass. Others don’t want to “overreact” or worry about medical bills.
Why It’s Dangerous:
Insurance companies use delays to question the legitimacy of your injuries. If there’s a gap between the accident and your first medical visit, they’ll argue that your injuries aren’t related or aren’t serious.
What to Do Instead:
Get checked out immediately—even if you feel okay. Injuries like whiplash, concussions, or soft tissue damage often show symptoms days later. At AK Injury Law, Dr. Keshavarz’s medical background ensures we understand and can fully document these “invisible injuries” that insurers try to ignore.
3. Posting on Social Media
The Mistake:
In today’s world, it’s instinctual to share life updates. You might post a photo at a party or write, “Feeling better!” to reassure friends and family.
Why It’s Dangerous:
Insurance investigators monitor your social media. A single photo, check-in, or comment—even taken out of context—can be used to claim you’re not injured or exaggerating your pain.
What to Do Instead:
Go quiet. Temporarily pause posting or set your profiles to private. Do not accept friend requests from people you don’t know. And most importantly, never discuss your accident or recovery online.
4. Accepting the First Settlement Offer
The Mistake:
You get a call or letter with a settlement offer. It sounds like decent money, and you’re tempted to “get it over with” so you can move on.
Why It’s Dangerous:
The first offer is almost always a lowball. It won’t account for long-term medical needs, future therapy, lost earning potential, or pain and suffering. Once you sign, you waive your right to future compensation—even if your condition worsens.
What to Do Instead:
Never accept an offer without reviewing it with a skilled personal injury attorney. At AK Injury Law, we assess the full scope of damages—both immediate and long-term—and strategically negotiate for what you truly deserve.
5. Not Documenting the Scene or Injuries Properly
The Mistake:
In the aftermath of a crash, many victims forget to collect evidence. They may leave without taking photos, don’t get the contact info of witnesses, or fail to note road conditions and traffic signs.
Why It’s Dangerous:
Memories fade and evidence disappears quickly. Without photos, videos, or documentation, it becomes your word against theirs—a position insurers love.
What to Do Instead:
If you’re able, document everything at the scene:
- Take photos of all vehicles, damage, road conditions, and injuries.
- Get names and contact info for any witnesses.
- Ask for a copy of the police report.
If you’re too injured to gather info, contact an attorney immediately. At AK Injury Law, we move fast to secure evidence, interview witnesses, and reconstruct the scene if necessary.
6. Failing to Follow Medical Advice
The Mistake:
Some victims stop going to physical therapy or skip follow-up appointments—either because they’re feeling better or due to inconvenience or cost.
Why It’s Dangerous:
When you skip treatment, insurance companies argue that your injuries aren’t serious or that you made them worse by not following your doctor’s recommendations.
What to Do Instead:
Stick with your treatment plan and keep all medical appointments. Consistency in care strengthens your case. At AK Injury Law, we help clients coordinate ongoing care and ensure their treatment is well documented in ways insurance companies can’t dispute.
7. Thinking You Don’t Need a Lawyer
The Mistake:
Some people assume they can handle the claim themselves or think lawyers are too expensive. Others feel they don’t have a “big enough” case to warrant representation.
Why It’s Dangerous:
Personal injury law is complex. Insurance companies bank on the fact that you’re unrepresented—because they know they can settle for less and keep you in the dark about your rights.
What to Do Instead:
Consult with an attorney right away. At AK Injury Law, we offer free consultations, and you don’t pay us unless we win your case. Our strategic, client-first approach ensures every case—big or small—is treated with the attention and precision it deserves.
8. Underestimating the Long-Term Impact
The Mistake:
Some victims focus only on today’s bills, failing to consider future issues like:
- Chronic pain
- Mobility loss
- PTSD or emotional trauma
- Long-term disability
- Job loss or reduced earning potential
Why It’s Dangerous:
A rushed or undervalued settlement can’t be reopened. Once you accept it, it’s final—even if you face complications later.
What to Do Instead:
Think long-term. AK Injury Law meticulously calculates your true lifetime impact—not just medical expenses, but emotional, physical, and financial damages that will unfold over time. We build a case that’s comprehensive and resilient to lowball tactics.
9. Believing the Insurance Adjuster Is “On Your Side”
The Mistake:
Adjusters often act friendly, offer support, and say things like “we just want to help you get what you deserve.” You may be lulled into thinking they’re working with you.
Why It’s Dangerous:
The adjuster works for the insurance company—not you. Their goal is to close your case quickly and cheaply. Every action they take is to protect the insurer—not your recovery.
What to Do Instead:
Redirect any communication to your attorney. At AK Injury Law, we anticipate adjuster strategies and counter them with smart, documented responses that take away their power to manipulate or minimize your claim.
10. Waiting Too Long to File a Claim
The Mistake:
Some victims wait months—or even years—before taking legal action. Life gets busy. Injuries stabilize. They think, “I’ll deal with it later.”
Why It’s Dangerous:
California law only gives you two years to file a personal injury lawsuit (and less in some cases if it involves a government entity). Waiting too long can:
- Weaken evidence
- Make witness memories unreliable
- Jeopardize your claim entirely
What to Do Instead:
Act fast. Contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible so that critical evidence can be preserved and deadlines met. The earlier we get involved, the stronger your case becomes.
How We Can Help
At AK Injury Law Firm, we’re not just lawyers—we are strategists, fighters, and relentless advocates for our clients. Led by Dr. Azadeh Keshavarz, a former doctor of chiropractic, we bring a powerful combination of medical insight and legal firepower to every case. We’ve seen firsthand how insurance companies take advantage of accident victims—and we’re here to stop that cycle.
Our motto says it all: Outthink. Outfight. Outwin.
Whether it’s anticipating insurance company tactics, documenting injuries the right way, or negotiating maximum settlements, we are built to fight smarter—not just harder.
If you’ve been injured in an accident in San Diego, don’t go it alone—and don’t wait. Contact AK Injury Law Firm for a free consultation today. We’ll guide you through every step, avoid the common traps, and make sure you get the compensation—and justice—you truly deserve.
