Protecting Your Legal Rights After an Auto Accident
Understanding how to handle a car accident is important for every driver. Eventually everyone will either wind up in an accident at some point in your life or at least witness a car accident. Like my mother says, “You have to drive for yourself and others.” While I understand what she means, it is simply impossible and sometimes accidents will occur. So the million dollar question is what should you do when you are involved in a car accident?
How to Handle an Accident
1. Make Sure Everyone is Free from Danger: Make sure that everyone is free from danger at the outset before you take any other steps after an accident. Seek attention for injured individuals. Do not move them unless it is absolutely necessary to do so for safety sake. Moving them may cause them further injury, and it could cause you a lawsuit.
2. Call 911 Immediately!!!!
3. Do not Discuss Fault: Do not discuss how the wreck happened until the police arrive.
4. Get the Other Driver’s Information: While waiting on the police to arrive take time to get vital details such as name, phone number, address and insurance details from the other driver
5. Collect Evidence: Immediately take photos of the scene, the cars, road conditions, traffic signs, and other evidence.
a. If you are injured, photograph your injuries, even if they seem like minor bruises and cuts!!!!!!
6. Seek Medical Attention: See a doctor immediately after the accident. While you may feel fine after a wreck, you could be suffering from delayed injuries such as internal bleeding or head trauma.
7. Keep a Medical Diary: Keep track of all prescriptions and medicines you take. Save the receipts and send them to your attorney as they are incurred. Keep a day by day diary of all your complaints and restricted activities.
8. Be Cautious of Insurance Adjusters: Insurance companies do not pay money willingly. The injury is what determines the actual damages. Therefore, insurance companies will thoroughly investigate the facts of any type of accident, the claims for medical treatments, and any past injuries or claims to evaluate the injured person’s damages.
a. Insurance adjusters will appear friendly and sympathetic, but don't ever forget that they are working for the insurance company, not you. People frequently make misstatements when talking to insurance adjusters that significantly lower the value of their claims.
9. Get Legal Help: If you are concerned about damages, repercussions or injuries from a car accident and who will pay for them, it may be time to talk to a lawyer.
a. Lawyers can help you to build a case and protect your interests during the claims process. You may be concerned about attorney’s fees, but in many cases, an attorney will take a personal injury case on contingency. That means you only pay if you win.
10. Tell Your Attorney Everything: Confide in your attorney and medical professionals.
a. For example, if the victim in an auto accident fails to disclose prior injuries and the insurance company discovers them, they will use that information to discredit all of her previous statements about her injuries.
11. Do not Rush to Settle: Do not be in a hurry to settle. The full extent of your injuries may not be known for several months after an auto accident. By being patient, you will allow your health care provider to fully document and treat your injuries, ensuring that you will be in the best position for a fair recovery. Once the matter is settled, you will not be able to recover for additional related injuries that are discovered later.
Understanding how to handle a car accident is important for every driver. Eventually everyone will either wind up in an accident at some point in your life or at least witness a car accident. Like my mother says, “You have to drive for yourself and others.” While I understand what she means, it is simply impossible and sometimes accidents will occur. So the million dollar question is what should you do when you are involved in a car accident?
How to Handle an Accident
1. Make Sure Everyone is Free from Danger: Make sure that everyone is free from danger at the outset before you take any other steps after an accident. Seek attention for injured individuals. Do not move them unless it is absolutely necessary to do so for safety sake. Moving them may cause them further injury, and it could cause you a lawsuit.
2. Call 911 Immediately!!!!
3. Do not Discuss Fault: Do not discuss how the wreck happened until the police arrive.
4. Get the Other Driver’s Information: While waiting on the police to arrive take time to get vital details such as name, phone number, address and insurance details from the other driver
5. Collect Evidence: Immediately take photos of the scene, the cars, road conditions, traffic signs, and other evidence.
a. If you are injured, photograph your injuries, even if they seem like minor bruises and cuts!!!!!!
6. Seek Medical Attention: See a doctor immediately after the accident. While you may feel fine after a wreck, you could be suffering from delayed injuries such as internal bleeding or head trauma.
7. Keep a Medical Diary: Keep track of all prescriptions and medicines you take. Save the receipts and send them to your attorney as they are incurred. Keep a day by day diary of all your complaints and restricted activities.
8. Be Cautious of Insurance Adjusters: Insurance companies do not pay money willingly. The injury is what determines the actual damages. Therefore, insurance companies will thoroughly investigate the facts of any type of accident, the claims for medical treatments, and any past injuries or claims to evaluate the injured person’s damages.
a. Insurance adjusters will appear friendly and sympathetic, but don't ever forget that they are working for the insurance company, not you. People frequently make misstatements when talking to insurance adjusters that significantly lower the value of their claims.
9. Get Legal Help: If you are concerned about damages, repercussions or injuries from a car accident and who will pay for them, it may be time to talk to a lawyer.
a. Lawyers can help you to build a case and protect your interests during the claims process. You may be concerned about attorney’s fees, but in many cases, an attorney will take a personal injury case on contingency. That means you only pay if you win.
10. Tell Your Attorney Everything: Confide in your attorney and medical professionals.
a. For example, if the victim in an auto accident fails to disclose prior injuries and the insurance company discovers them, they will use that information to discredit all of her previous statements about her injuries.
11. Do not Rush to Settle: Do not be in a hurry to settle. The full extent of your injuries may not be known for several months after an auto accident. By being patient, you will allow your health care provider to fully document and treat your injuries, ensuring that you will be in the best position for a fair recovery. Once the matter is settled, you will not be able to recover for additional related injuries that are discovered later.
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