Despite the quarantine restrictions that are in place today to control the unnecessary movement of people to and from their homes, accidents can still happen. Even the pandemic cannot stop this occurrence, so much so now that roads are less populated. With this comes the natural tendency to speed up, because of this convenience, and even to get errands over with right away. In fact, statistics even show that no matter what road or travel restrictions are in place, even when you’re just driving nearby for a supermarket run during this pandemic, the likelihood of an accident is still the same. A majority of auto accidents happen within 25 miles of where the driver lives. So, with or without the pandemic, there’s always that chance of an accident lurking near you.
But, while the incident of an accident is something that you have no control over, it’s now the outcome following an accident that’s changed. After all, people are discouraged from meeting each other, court cases are postponed, and medical processes are also done differently.
Henceforth, when you do meet an accident, it’s safe to say that you can expect to see some modifications as to the manner that your accident is going to be handled. At the very least, perhaps all legalities will have to be postponed, up until the COVID-19 restrictions in the law are also lifted.
When this time comes, here are some tips for you to be guided by in handling your accident:
- Start To Contact And Actively Meet With The Car Insurance Company
When you get involved in a car accident, it’s often inevitable that you’re going to have to meet with the car insurance company, through their agent. Once you have the damage adequately assessed, and all your other claims, you now have to do your part in ensuring that you’ll receive the compensation that’s rightfully due to you.
While this may sound like an easy task to accomplish, note that dealing with insurance companies isn’t always easy. They know about insurance law more than you do. More so, because so much time has now lapsed due to COVID closures and restrictions, you may also be tempted to accept the very first offer presented to you, so that you can get it over with right away.
Don’t make this mistake. Whenever you feel like you’re not going to be able to navigate this process smoothly, having a lawyer by your side is one of your best recourses.
Apart from hiring one, here are other tips that can also come in handy, as you start to deal with these insurance agents:
- Never give them a recorded statement, as this might only minimize the amount that you can validly claim.
- Do not immediately give in to the offers made by, and befriend, the insurance company’s adjusters.
- Insist that for any medical claims that you must have, your doctor should bill for this.
- Do handle all of the insurance company’s communications promptly.
- Whenever you’re unsure, never give statements to the company without the presence of a lawyer.
- Visit The Police Station And Re-Check All Of The Documents Related To Your Accident
Now that you can meet with many people at once, it also pays to visit the police station that has the records of your case. Just check to see that all of the necessary documents are still present, and nothing has been lost or tampered with. If you haven’t made copies yet of the reports, now’s a good time for you also to do so. That way, if anything gets lost now that the processing of your car accident case will be more active, you have extra copies.
Another prudent act for you to do is to secure information on the following:
- Take note of the officer’s name and badge number of the one/s that’s handling your case
- Get the phone numbers of the police station and other contact details that they can openly give, so it’s easier to make the necessary calls
- Start Printing Photos Of The Accident
If you haven’t already, it’s a good time for you to start printing photos of those you’ve taken from the accident. As you speak with your lawyer, now that court hearings can progress, the judge may ask for these photos as part of the documentary evidence you’re going to submit. So, it can be wise to start preparing this as early as possible. That way, when your case is called for hearing, you have what you need.
- Meet And Talk With Your Witnesses
Because meeting in public and with others was also prohibited during the quarantine and lockdown period for COVID, now you have a lot of catching up to do when it comes to obtaining information also from the witnesses to your accident.
This step is significant for you to go through. It’s through the witnesses that your case’s viability can be strengthened. During the court hearing, your witnesses will be called to trial, too. The same will also be necessary at times for your claim with insurance companies to prosper. So, be sure that you don’t skip out on this step.
Conclusion
Road accidents aren’t uncommon. Even with the current pandemic, this could still happen. Typically, too, accidents can always cause one to be under a lot of distress. It’s expected that you feel confused about what you have to do so that you can have the best possible outcome from your case. After all, falling into an accident is never a pleasant situation to be in. By now, your car accident case may have been put to a temporary stop. But, once the COVID-19 restrictions are relaxed, you’re going to have to go back to normal. These tips enumerated above can help get you started well.
