Car accidents are terrible to experience, but what’s worse is being left with a mountain of bills in the aftermath, with no way out. Fortunately, if you were hurt in a car accident, you can get compensation for it. But first, you must get your ducks in a row.
Here are some important steps you must follow to qualify for and get compensation:
Get Medical Attention
Before pursuing financial compensation, first seek immediate medical attention just to check any complications or emergencies off the list. Even if you don’t feel any injury or don’t believe you may have been hurt, get a doctor to give you clearance.
Insurance companies tend to knock off claims by arguing that victims were not injured. So, you may want to get checked and ensure your claim is watertight.
File a Report With Law Enforcement
Once cleared by a doctor, the next thing to do is to officially report the situation to law enforcement and your insurance company. Without an official report, any subsequent claims may end up being a “he said, she said” situation.
Many times, guilty drivers have been found to change their story during investigation. So, even if the guilty driver claims responsibility at the scene, get it all on paper to protect yourself.
Gather Evidence
You need as much evidence as you can gather from the crash scene in case settlement does not go amicably between parties. So, take photos of the damaged vehicles, any other property damage, and injuries.
Gather written statements and contact details from any witnesses present, as these may come in handy later.
Document Your Injuries
Sometimes, the physical and mental effects of a car accident do not show up immediately. So, if you’ve had to undergo therapy, surgery, physiotherapy, or other forms of treatment as a result of the accident, keep evidence of these.
Ensure you follow through with your treatment plan, if any, as that is another area where insurance companies tend to hit back on injury claims.
If you do not complete your treatments, insurance companies can claim that you made your injuries worse or contributed to any permanent side effects. This way, they can reduce their liability and any compensation they ought to pay you.
Keep a Detailed Account of the Accident
Putting the events on paper is a good idea, especially because it helps you remember them.
You can write any information you may forget in your diary, including what happened, where you were going, who hit who first, weather and traffic conditions, etc. If you had to go to the emergency room, keep evidence of all doctor’s appointments.
Also, if the accident caused you to take time off work, document this as well. This information is useful when filing a claim because insurance companies expect your lawyer to submit detailed information and go through it with a fine-toothed comb.
Hire an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer
If you were hurt in a car accident or suffered some damage to your vehicle, it is advisable to hire a seasoned car accident lawyer. This type of lawyer will help you pursue a claim and get the compensation you deserve. An experienced car accident lawyer will also walk you through every step of the process so you understand what’s going on.
Also, experience has shown that individuals who pursue their injury claims with a lawyer tend to receive better compensation packages. Although you may have to pay a portion of this settlement to the lawyer, they would demand enough to cover their service fees.
File Your Claims
Now that you have a car accident lawyer, it’s time to charge the insurance company and the offending party for their worth. There are many different types of injury claims you can make.
For example, you can get compensated for medical costs, lost wages, car damage, and even any emotional damage you may have suffered. Speak to your lawyer to know exactly what you are entitled to and the number of claims you can make.
Avoid Speaking to the Insurance Company Without Your Lawyer
Dealing with insurance can be tricky, which is why we never recommend you do it alone. Insurance companies may call you after a car accident to get a statement. Do not give a statement without your lawyer’s consent, even if it is your insurance company.
The thing is, while insurance companies may seem like it, they are not always on your side, even yours. You may think it is the other party’s insurer you may have to worry about, but this is not always the case.
Your insurer also wants to reduce their liability by all means, so if getting an implicating statement from you would make them pay the least possible payout, they’ll take it. Your lawyer will make sure this doesn’t happen. So, if the insurers call you, call your lawyer.
Exercise Patience
Here’s the part nobody talks about when it comes to getting compensation after a car accident: Sometimes, the dispute can be easily settled during a roundtable discussion, but most times, it will require some back-and-forth.
Let’s say, for instance, that the offending party does not have insurance. In that case, you may have to go against your insurance company to get compensation. After all, insurance companies do not just hand out money for every claim.
So, your lawyer will need time to build a case that the insurance company cannot wiggle out of.
However, despite this, presenting detailed evidence and the resulting back-and-forth may take time. Depending on how complicated the case is, the court’s availability, the presence of witnesses, etc., it can take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of years. So, mentally prepare yourself for a long legal battle.
Conclusion
If you’ve been hurt in a car accident, you need legal guidance to help you get the compensation you deserve. Speaking with an experienced car accident lawyer can make a difference in how much compensation you get.