Have you been injured in a car accident? Essential steps to follow further
Whether it’s you at fault, or someone else, going through an accident is not a funny situation.
You can easily panic and can be hard to make important decisions once you’re being involved in a car accident. Hopefully, you’re not going to find yourself in such unfortunate situation, although traffic accidents are more and more common. But if you get familiar with these simple steps, you’ll be safer and much more confident if you find yourself on the side of the road after a car accident.
There are certain things you should do immediately after a crash, like calling law enforcement
It’s essential to alert the police after an accident, as they’ll do an investigation, examine the scene of the accident, and inspect the cars. They’ll determine who is at fault for the accident. The police are the only eligible party to determine who is at fault. Without a police report, you put yourself in a chaotic situation. Although the other party may say that they’re at fault and offer to take care of the accident, their thoughts may change later. They might deny the accident and leave you in a position of taking all the fault. Always call the police and file an accident report.
Get witness contact information
If there are any witnesses at the scene of the accident, it’s even better. Don’t hesitate to talk to them and obtain their contact information. Often, third parties will leave the scene of the accident until the police officers are there. Thus, by the time the police arrive at the scene of the accident, make sure you get witnesses’ contact information. Important details about the accident could be missed, as you’d be incredibly confused. It’s important to not put yourself in a situation where it’s your word against the other driver’s. Obtaining witness information will help the police determine who is actually at fault.
Additionally, sometimes, the police reports don’t get enough witness details to contact them later, like a phone number, or home address. Witnesses may have common names, like John Stewart, so it may be impossible to find them later. If you need witnesses to testify in court, you need to obtain their information at the scene of the accident.
If you’ve been injured, you should receive medical help
If you believe you’re injured after the accident, you should seek immediate medical treatment. It’s not the right time to worry about medical expenses; all you need to do is hope that you’ll get the right medical help. It’s even worse if you wait too long until you receive medical attention – the more likely the insurance company will argue that you’re not as hurt as you claim. This is the type of defence the insurance company take, so they don’t provide the right compensation.
Generally, insurance companies claim that if the victim didn’t take an ambulance to the hospital, or waited a couple of days to let the pain go away, they weren’t actually that injured. They might also claim that injuries were caused by some other reason, also suggesting that you refused medical treatment until your lawyer told you to do so. Shortly, if you do not receive medical treatment immediately after the car accident, the insurance company may say that your injuries are fake. They’ll take the opportunity to call you a liar and not give you compensation. As such, don’t make this mistake; always seek out medical attention for your injuries.
Describe your injuries thoroughly
When receiving medical attention after an accident, it’s essential to describe your injuries in detail. The healthcare specialists will be verifying your injuries and complaints in their medical records and will be relied upon by the insurance company. If your claim doesn’t reflect in your medical records, the insurance company will say that the injury is not real, or caused by the car accident. Even the slightest pain is worth mentioning – it could intensify over a couple of days, weeks, or months. Failing to describe your injuries could make it challenging for you to prove they’re related to the accident you suffered.
It’s really not the right moment to prove how tough you are, or how much pain you can tolerate. Make sure you tell your healthcare professional about your pains, and how affected you feel after the accident. Don’t think about how you’ll feel after a while, let your medical provider create a record that conserves your right to receive compensation for your injuries.
Get an experienced lawyer
If you are injured in a car accident, make sure that you hire an experienced attorney. Most people don’t hire a lawyer to represent themselves in court, which is a big mistake. The insurance company won’t have the best interest in you, but an attorney does. Especially one that handled many cases like yours. They’re able to offer you guidance through the whole process. Your lawyer is able to assist you while settling your claim, getting your car fixed, getting financial coverage for a rental car, and maximizing income for your injuries. Filling a lawsuit with a lawyer will get you rid of the burden to deal with the insurance company.
According to studies, individuals who are represented by a lawyer gets a lot more compensation than people who aren’t unrepresented. Even though part of the settlement will be redirected to your lawyer, the amount obtained will still be substantial compared to how much you’d get from an insurance company. Ensure that you hire an experienced accident lawyer as soon as possible after a car accident.
It’s a very good idea to note on paper everything – detail your experience, your injuries, medical treatment, and expenses. It may take up to three years to have your case represented in court. Thus, you can use your notes to help recollect important details that may become uncertain over time.
