If you have been in a car accident and it was not your fault, you will likely be filing a claim with the other driver's insurance company. But when you do this, you may find that it is rejected, or you are not getting the full amount you thought you would get. The following are a few things you need to receive full compensation after an accident.
You need to document the accident
If your accident is serious enough to the point where one or more cars cannot be driven, you need to get off the street and call the police. The police will have the cars moved after they document the scene and fill out a report that will become a valuable piece of information for your claim. If the cars involved can be driven, then you need to get out of the road and exchange information with the other driver. Depending upon the jurisdiction you are living in, the police may not come to the scene of the accident unless the damage is severe. In this case, you need to record or take pictures of all sides of your car. This information will document the damage to your car.
If you are hurt, you need to go to a hospital
This cannot be stressed enough. Even if your injuries seem superficial, you may find later that the injury was worse than you thought. When you realize this, you will want to see a doctor, but the problem is that the insurance company may accuse you of having been injured after the accident. If you have already visited a doctor, the delay in a serious injury will be more credible. Even doctors can miss a problem with their initial examination. It is best to see a doctor right after the accident and not create any delays that will only raise suspicion with a claims adjuster.
If you are seriously hurt, hire an attorney
The chances of you getting all the compensation you are entitled to after an injury in an auto accident are slim. In the first place, you will not know what the law is so you won't know what is coming to you. The insurance companies know this, so they will always offer you less than you deserve. Secondly, you have no experience negotiating at the level of an insurance company. The chances are that they will get the best of you. Although you may not need an attorney for a non-injury crash, an accident that injures you mandates the need for a lawyer.
If you have been in an accident, the accident must be documented. Often, this is done by the police, but you should take the step of exchanging information and taking photos of the cars involved. If injured, always seek medical attention as soon s possible. And above all, any time you have injuries, contact a personal injury attorney as soon as you are able to.
Contact an attorney like Edward M Graves III to learn more.
