“GATHER SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE”
by Contributor
(Jun. 17, 2019) — Car accidents are always stressful. Keep a clear mind afterward with this guide on what to do after a car accident. We’ve outlined every step you need to know!
A car accident is daunting even for well-organized people. A minute you are partaking your day to day activities, then the next minute your loved one is in the ambulance fighting for their lives.
You might wonder what to do after a car accident?
Below are 6 tips on the essential actions to take after a car accident:
- Seek Medical Help
Whose fault is a car accident? Usually, a car accident can leave you inscrutable. You need to compose yourself during those stressful situations and take appropriate actions.
After a car accident, you need to stop. This is your obligation as a motorist.
Even if you feel that there is no visible damage, you need to turn off your engine. It would be best if you then got prompt medical attention for the injured.
The health of your driver, passenger, or the pedestrian should be prioritized. Generally, healing begins from the time of the injury.
Follow-up treatments and therapies will get you up and running sooner. Treatment shows your insurance company that you are working towards recovery.
You should never admit liability for the accident. The insurance policy is a binding contract that states that you must not accept responsibility under the circumstances.
If the insurance policy covers the claim, let them do the talking. You should also cooperate with the police as well as witnesses at the scene. Even if it’s a minor accident, you need to file a report with the police.
- Get Information
If you didn’t sustain injuries after an accident, get contact info as well as insurance information from the other driver. You might also obtain information from the passengers and other witnesses.
While handling a car accident, you should have a camera to take pictures of the scene. The images can be used during negotiations.
If you didn’t carry your camera, you could use a smartphone. Take pictures of the vehicles involved and capture their license plates. The documentation is essential when filling claims from the insurer.
Car accidents are beyond our control. You can share information with the third parties involved.
The information includes vehicle model, year of manufacture, and license plate number. You can also write down vital information such as address.
You can also make notes. After an accident, your stress hormones may escalate. It’s easy to forget details.
Therefore, you need to have as many details as possible. Be sure to note some of the information in your notebook.
- Contact a Car Accident Attorney
After a car accident, it’s imperative to seek legal counsel from a skilled attorney. You need a car accident lawyer.
An attorney will help you determine whether the other person should be liable for the resulting injuries. The attorney can also help you decide whether or not you have a personal injury case that should be determined.
If you have a solid case, your attorney becomes your official representative. The attorney is your negotiator when dealing with insurance companies.
The attorney can negotiate a settlement and argue your case in court. If you get a competent attorney, you might receive all the compensation that will aid your full recovery.
If you don’t procure the services of an attorney, vital evidence could be lost. Besides, you might be in a rush to accept your insurance firm’s initial offer.
When dealing with your insurance company, the claim adjusters are never on your side. They work for the insurance companies and want to minimize the payout benefits.
For this reason, you need to learn more on how a car accident lawyer can help to negotiate on your behalf and help you settle for reasonable compensation.
- Contact your Insurance Agent
You can notify your insurance company using their emergency claim number immediately after an accident. If you request them to come to the scene, it might not be useful.
Sometimes, you may let the police update your insurance company about the accident. The police are generally in a better location to provide accurate information at that time.
You can give inconsistent details because you are upset by the car accident. When calling your insurance company, you might furnish your insurance company with the other person’s policy number and their insurance company name.
- Talk to the Insurance Adjuster
In the presence of your lawyer, you can talk to the insurance adjuster.
The adjuster is the person tasked with investigating your insurance claims. These people also determine the extent of the liability and pass that information to the insurance company. Therefore, your car accident lawyer should talk to the claim adjuster and assess the vehicle damage.
The claim adjuster should also assess the police report as well as statements given by witnesses. After verifying the documents, they determine faults and give you an estimated compensation package.
During this stage, you should let your attorney handle the negotiations.
- Follow up
In the United States, insurance companies have their presence on the web. The firms permit their customers to check the status of their claim online. All you need is a reference number and personal details.
If your company is not available online, you can visit its offline stores and check the status of your claim. Most insurance companies send text messages to their customers once their insurance claims are processed.
Key Take Away
Your insurance broker will help you during the entire process of filing claims after an accident. If your insurer has a website, you can make follow-ups online.
Technically, your roles after an accident are to gather facts. You don’t need to get involved in further discussions. If the other party prompts you to admit liability, collect that information, and don’t commit to anything.
In filing the report, you should not discuss faults with the other party. The details of how you feel about the accident are not necessary. Even if you did something wrong, never indicate responsibility.
In many States, you have a legal obligation to report a crash. A car accident lawyer can help you interpret laws in your State. Always remember, at the scene of the accident, you don’t know the other person. Therefore, gather sufficient evidence to protect yourself.
Contact us for more tips on the actions to take after a car accident.