A car accident is a traumatic experience for accident victims. The accident can cause physical injuries, emotional trauma, and psychological conditions. Car accidents are also expensive to repair, even if the driver is insured. Fortunately, there are some simple things that you can do after an accident to minimize your losses.
Car accident victims need to understand what they should and should not do immediately after their car accident. Doing or saying too much or too little at this stage can harm your case later down the road. Therefore, here are six useful tips to guide you through the process of dealing with the aftermath of a car accident.
Contact A Lawyer
One of the first things you should consider after being involved in a car accident is contacting a lawyer. Your attorney can advise you on how to proceed and what steps you need to take immediately after the crash. An experienced personal injury attorney will also offer advice on how much your case may be worth and whether or not you have a valid claim.
There is no requirement for you to have retained legal counsel before speaking with representatives from your insurance company. However, as seen at www.samandashlaw.com it’s usually best not to speak at all with your insurer without consulting an experienced car accident lawyer. Hiring a personal injury lawyer will help you understand your legal rights and ensure that your insurer is playing by the rules before you accept any offer, which can be crucial for your case.
Be Careful With Your Words
In the immediate aftermath of a car accident, it is easy to become confused and somewhat disoriented by the chaotic scene that you are confronted with. However, you should try to avoid making any statements to your insurer in this state of confusion. Statements made in the heat of the moment without being properly informed about your legal rights can harm your injury case in court later down the road.
After a car accident, you may be asked several questions by an official from your insurance company. Your answers will be used against you if they are not carefully recorded immediately following the crash.
Seek medical attention immediately
It’s important to seek medical treatment right after a car accident, even if you don’t have any immediate injuries or pain following the crash. Most people can treat themselves at home with over-the-counter medication, but this should be discussed with your doctor. If you do feel that you’re injured enough that it would be beneficial to visit a hospital or physician, then make sure that you receive care as soon as possible.
The medical records which are created during these visits will ensure that your damages are documented thoroughly in case the issue(s) resort down the road while pursuing litigation over your car accident. Seeking emergency medical treatment will also ensure that you have the proper records in place before liability and fault for your accident are established and any claims related to your injuries and damages are settled.
Preserve Your Evidence
After a car accident, you should make an effort to preserve any evidence that may be relevant to your accident case. This includes taking photos at the scene and making copies of any police reports filed in connection with the crash. You should also try to contact any witnesses who were present when the accident occurred and ask them for written accounts of what happened.
Additionally, keep all medical records related to injuries incurred from the crash because these can help establish how much you have been affected by the incident. If possible, defendants should be asked to sign releases so that their insurance company won’t use this information against them later in court or when negotiating a settlement offer with their insurer.
Don’t Accept Any Settlement Offers
When dealing with an insurance company following a car accident, it’s best to not accept any settlement offers. Insurance companies are notorious for offering lowball offers to claimants after an automobile accident, and if you accept one of these deals without consulting your personal injury attorney, then you could severely limit the amount of compensation that you may be entitled to receive. You may also be giving up your right to take legal action against the defendant.
Always consult with a car accident lawyer before accepting any settlement offer because allowing an insurance adjuster to set the amount of compensation you receive could severely reduce the total amount that you may be entitled to.
Don’t Panic When Things Get Confusing
After being involved in a motor vehicle collision, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the chaos that surrounds your case. However, it is important not to panic when things get confusing or frustrating during litigation following your accident because this can often lead to sub-par legal representation and missed opportunities for compensation.
If possible, hire an experienced personal injury attorney who specializes in representing individuals who have been injured in car crashes so that they can help make sense of what happening with your case and ensure that you are receiving the compensation that you deserve.
Numerous steps should be taken following a car accident to ensure that your case is properly handled, and you receive the full amount of compensation that you deserve. Following these six steps will make this process much easier for injured victims and their families who have been impacted by such an incident.
