When you are in a car accident, it can be an incredibly stressful time. Your car may be damaged and you may be injured, or may not feel as though you are injured in the moments after the car accident.
There are some steps you should do to protect yourself if you are in an automobile accident. You want to contact the police and your insurance company.
You want to make sure that you get medical attention. You want to write down everything and take pictures. You might want to consider contacting a motor vehicle lawyer.
We would like to talk a little more in-depth as to why you should take all of these steps. Once you make sure everyone is ok, you should contact the police.
You want to have a police report of what happened, especially if you are not at fault. If the other party is found at fault on the police report, it can help you.
You want to seek medical attention immediately, even if you feel like you are fine. Some injuries do not show themselves until a few days or weeks after the accident.
Delaying medical attention can impact your ability to get proper treatment for your injuries. It can also work against you if you need to file a personal injury claim.
The experts at Timothy J. Ryan & Associates exclaim that these can also work against you if you need to file a personal injury claim. You want documentation of your injuries, tests, exams, prognosis, long-term implications, and medications.
You should contact your insurance company and report the accident. You will answer questions and probably fill out some forms.
You want to be sure that you understand what coverage you have. Make sure you document all of the calls you have.
You will want to write it all down so you do not forget any details. Be sure to include dates, times, and names.
You want to be completely honest with your insurance company. If you do not give them all of the information, even if it is an oversight, it could prevent you from getting your coverage.
You do not want to automatically agree to accept anything that the insurance company offers to you.
You want to make sure that you write down everything and take pictures. You should take pictures of things that you do not even think you need pictures of.
You want to make sure you take pictures of the accident scene. You want to make sure you take pictures of any damage to your car.
You should document all of your expenses related to your car accident. You want to keep the best records of all of your medical care and supplies.
You want to keep records of any expenses that your relatives or friends paid for you. You want to keep records of the money you have spent on rental cars or alternative methods of transportation.
We said it once in this article, but it bears repeating, do not sign anything. Do not agree to anything right away. You definitely do not want to agree to anything immediately and if someone is offering you a settlement, you should consult a lawyer before you agree.
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