Media post: What do I do immediately after a car accident?

When you are injured in an accident, your number one concern should be getting well. However, getting well is not free. You are going to have to pay your medical bills somehow, and insurance companies are not fond of paying their clients what they are owed.

There are a few precautions that you should take after an accident. If you follow them, you will have a better chance of getting an insurance company to pay you what you deserve.

What to do at the Scene

When you have an accident, you should pull over to the side of the road and find out if anyone has been hurt. If there are any injuries at all, or if there is serious damage to any of the cars involved, you should call the police and wait for them to arrive. When they get there, you should tell them the basic facts you remember about the accident.

Most attorneys will tell you that you should never admit to guilt at the scene even if you believe you caused the accident. There may be circumstances that contributed to the crash of which you are unaware.

You should get the name and contact information of anyone who witnessed the collision and takes pictures if you can. If an ambulance arrives at the scene, you should let the EMTs check you out if they offer to. If they think you need to be taken to the hospital right away, you should go.

Getting Medical Treatment

If you are injured in an accident, you should always go to see your doctor even if you feel just fine. There are some injuries that are not immediately apparent and can have serious results if they go ignored.

You should save a copy of every medical bill that is related to your accident. You should also get your doctor to write you regular progress reports. If a doctor recommends that you have surgery, you should get it, even if it seems expensive.

You should save bills for any physical therapy, massage therapy, or Psychotherapy that you need as a result of the accident. You will want to save the receipts from any medication prescription or non-prescription that you have had to take because of your injuries.

Documenting Other Expenses

Generally speaking, doctors’ offices do not have appointments available at night. You may have had to miss hours away from work due to your accident. If this is the case, you should get your employer to write you a letter stating how many hours you work and how much money it cost.

If you need any assistance with normal chores, such as cleaning, you should save the bills. You should also document any important life events you have missed due to your accident. For example, if you have purchased airline tickets that you can’t use, be sure to save a copy of the receipt.

File an Insurance Claim

You should call your insurance company as soon as you can. The sooner you make initial contact, the sooner you will get an offer. There is a good chance they will try to deny your claim or lowball you after your initial conversation. Before you accept a settlement, you should talk to an attorney.

What to Look for in a Lawyer

The attorney you hire should be well-versed in personal injury law. They should have an excellent reputation with the State Bar Association, and they should be able to provide you with references. An attorney will have years of experience dealing with insurance companies, and they should be able to negotiate a good deal on your behalf. Click here to read more realjustice.com.