After being injured in a car accident, there are certain steps you need to take right away if you want to get compensated for your medical bills. Failure to seek medical attention, for example, can prevent you from getting the money you deserve.
Here’s a look at four things you need to do immediately following a car accident injury.
1. See A Doctor Immediately
There are two reasons to get seen by a doctor right away: you might need urgent medical care, and not getting seen can get your claim denied. No matter if you feel pain or not, if your car accident was more than a fender-bender in the parking lot, see a doctor or go to the ER as soon as possible. Your body might be in shock, numbing the pain, making it hard for you to assess your own injuries. A doctor can run tests/scans to see if you have certain injuries common to car accident victims.
Where compensation is concerned, your right to recover money for your injuries will depend on your ability to prove your injuries. The only legally acceptable proof will be your medical records.
If you don’t seek treatment right away and then file a lawsuit, the judge might see that as a sign that you aren’t really injured, and your claim may be denied. If you don’t seek medical attention and you’re trying to get a settlement directly from an insurance company, they won’t compensate you without proof that you actually needed medical care.
2. Contact A Personal Injury Lawyer
Car accidents can result in serious injuries, and lawsuits are complex. The best way to navigate this scenario is with a lawyer. When you hire a personal injury attorney, you have a better chance of recovering the compensation you deserve while avoiding the stress of trying to figure it out on your own.
A lawyer can help you recover compensation to cover more than just your medical bills. For example, through a lawsuit, you might be able to get money for lost wages, lost future wages, loss of enjoyment of life, and more. The compensation you can get will depend on the severity of your injuries and your individual situation, but you’ll recover far more with the help of a lawyer.
3. Document The Scene
If you ever find yourself involved in a car accident, document the scene as soon as possible, preferably before anyone moves their car. In fact, it’s best not to move vehicles until the police come out to document the scene. However, if your vehicle poses an immediate hazard to traffic, you’ll need to move it out of the way. If you have a passenger, ask them to take photos of all vehicles in their current position while you talk to the other driver(s).
In addition to taking photos of any vehicles involved, take photos of the surrounding area, including anything that may have contributed to the accident, like a stop sign covered by bushes if there’s anything odd about the lanes that make it confusing for traffic, document that as well. For example, if there’s no visibility of oncoming traffic from a certain vantage point, document that in the form of photos and video, if possible.
4. Insist On A Police Report
If there are no witnesses to your accident, there’s a good chance you and the other driver will have a different version of events. Without a police investigation, you might not get properly compensated, and you could be wrongfully deemed at fault. When you insist on having the police come out and investigate, it will force all drivers involved to provide their version of events on the spot without having any time to reflect on the incident.
Keep in mind that in some states, police aren’t required to file a report when an accident happens on private property (like in a parking lot) or when there are no injuries or a certain dollar amount of damage.
Don’t Try To Settle Your Claim Without A Lawyer
As soon as you report your injuries, you’ll get a settlement offer from an insurance company. Don’t take their offer or try to negotiate a better deal on your own. Hire a lawyer for all financial negotiations. The insurance company will lowball your offers, and only a skilled attorney will be able to provide you with the compensation you deserve.
Whether you’re obligated to accept an insurance settlement or you can file a lawsuit, you’ll be thankful you hired a personal injury lawyer.
