Filing a claim after a car accident might sound easy, but it can actually be quite a hassle. Depending on the accident’s severity, it can take a lot of time to file a claim and expect results. Cases of this nature are typically taken on by attorneys who focus their practices on representing clients in vehicular accidents. If you find yourself in a situation like this, it is in your best interest to speak with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Legal experts can help you find the best way to solve your problem with the least amount of money and legal trouble. If you were involved in a car accident, you should seek the advice of a car accident lawyer as soon as possible.
To begin, you are required to file your personal injury claim with a car accident lawyer specializing in auto accidents. Then there are certain conditions that must be met in terms of compensation, as given below.
1. Check Yourself for Injuries
If you or someone with you has been injured, call 911 immediately or have a friend or family member do it for you. If you have sustained a serious injury, you should always keep still while you wait for medical assistance. This is especially important if you are unconscious.
2. Check on The Well-Being of Your Passengers
If you are not in too much pain to move, you should check on the well-being of the other passengers in the vehicle as soon as you are able to. If there is a possibility that someone has been hurt, you need to call the emergency services or ask a bystander to make the call for you.
3. Get to Safety
If you are able to do so, move over to the side of the road where there is a shoulder or onto the sidewalk. If your vehicle is not unsafe to operate but is creating a hazard where it is currently parked, you should move it to the shoulder of the road where it can be more safely parked. In the event that this is not the case, you ought to abandon it where it is and proceed to a location that is more secure for you.
4. Call 911
It is of the utmost significance to inform the authorities following any kind of accident, regardless of how serious the incident may or may not have been, and doing so may even be required by law in certain states. The police officers who were sent to the scene will write up an accident report and take pictures of the area. According to the III, if the police are unable to respond to the scene of the accident, you have the right to go to the police station that is closest to you and file a report on your own. This right is guaranteed to you even if the police cannot respond to the accident scene. When you file a claim with your insurance company, they may ask for a copy of the police report to get a better idea of whether or not your claim is true.
5. Wait for Help
You need to come to a complete halt first, turn on your emergency flashers, and finally use the road flares in your emergency car kit to signal to other drivers that they need to slow down.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau also warns people to be careful and keep an eye out for dishonest people who drive tow trucks. These are the drivers of the tow trucks who stopped to offer their assistance despite the fact that you did not call them in advance to help you with the situation. There is a chance that it is a con job on your part. It is not uncommon for them to persuade victims to permit them to tow their cars to questionable places, which will then hold the car hostage in exchange for a large payment. Documentation supporting the use of this practice has been presented on a number of occasions.
6. Exchange Information
As soon as you know that you and anyone else in your car are okay, you should talk to the other driver about exchanging information about your contact information and insurance coverage. According to the III, here’s the most important information drivers should exchange after an accident:
- Full name and contact information
- Insurance company and policy number
- Driver’s license and license plate number
- Type, color, and model of vehicle
- Location of accident
The III recommends that you refrain from discussing who was at fault whenever you review what happened with the other driver. This is because of the events that took place. When you file a claim with your insurance company, the adjuster who looks at it will decide who is at fault based on the following: an inspection of the damaged vehicles or property; information from you and the other people involved in the accident; and any supporting documents, such as the police report or photos taken at the scene of the accident.
When you file a claim with your insurance company, the adjuster who reviews your claim will determine who is at fault based on the following: an inspection of the damaged vehicles or property; information provided
7. Document the Accident With the Help of a Car Accident Lawyer
In order to help protect yourself, the III recommends taking the following steps:
- Identify the officers.
Obtain the names and badge numbers of all officers who responded when the cops arrived.
- Get a copy.
Inquire with the officers who are currently on the scene about how you can get a copy of the accident report. When you claim your auto insurance, your insurer may ask for a copy of the report as part of the process.
- Take pictures.
Take numerous photographs of the accident scene, including your vehicle, from various perspectives to illustrate the degree of damage sustained by both vehicles. In addition to this, it is recommended that you take pictures of the license plate displayed on the other vehicle. While filing a claim with your insurer, you might have the opportunity to send photos to them to help support your claim.
- Take down names.
Take down the names and addresses of everyone involved in the incident, including anyone riding in the other vehicle’s passenger seats.
- Talk to witnesses.
If any people saw what happened, ensure you get their names and the best way to reach them.
You should keep this accident information page in your vehicle to better organize all of the documentation related to the accident.
8. Notify your insurer and start the claims process
Calling your insurance company while you are still at the accident site or filing a claim through the mobile app of your insurance company, if they offer such a service, are both good options to consider. This way, they will be able to tell you exactly what they will need to process your claim, as well as what you can expect while filing a claim. If your vehicle sustains damage, your insurer will be able to make arrangements for it to be towed directly to a body shop that is accredited.
Even the most experienced driver can be rattled after being in an accident, but if you follow these steps, it may help you avoid worrying about things that aren’t necessary. So, you’ll be able to focus on working with your insurance company to ensure that the process of getting your car fixed goes as quickly and smoothly as possible.
Take away
A car accident lawyer who specializes in cases involving car accidents will provide you with information about how to file a claim for car insurance, allowing you to obtain the insured amount in the shortest amount of time possible.
So, it is very important that these things be done under the supervision of personal injury lawyers.
