Few things are scarier than being involved in an auto accident – especially one that results in personal injury. In the wake of such an accident, your emotions are liable to run the gamut from fearful to outright enraged. If the accident in question was entirely the fault of another motorist, you have every right to take legal action. If you have suffered physically or mentally, you should take the opportunity to get a full insurance settlement or lawsuit payout.
Car accident victims looking to get the restitution they deserve can benefit from the 5 tips discussed below.
Make Sure To Document Any Injuries You Incur
To help ensure that your insurer – or the responsible party’s insurer – covers any medical costs that result from the accident, take care to document any injuries you or your passengers have incurred. Photographing your injuries as soon as possible can help provide the relevant parties with the clearest possible picture of the damage caused by the other driver’s actions.
In addition, make sure to request copies of any medical reports and hospital bills you receive in the wake of the accident. In addition to carefully documenting any personal injuries that stem from this incident, make a point of documenting the damage caused to your vehicle and any other vehicles. You should also obtain quotes from various auto repair specialists, as this will help your insurer determine whether or not they should classify the vehicle as totaled. Just remember – the more diligent you are at documenting the aftermath of the accident, the more solid a case you’re likely to have.
Type Up Your Account Of The Accident
Your injuries and the damage to your vehicle aren’t the only things it’s important to document in the wake of an accident. You’ll also need to type up a detailed account of your version of events. The sooner you do this, the fresher the incident is likely to be in your mind – and the more details you’re able to include, the better. Furthermore, you should submit this to your insurer on the double, as this will enable them to get started on processing your claim.
Remain At The Scene
Leaving the scene of a car accident – especially one in which you were directly involved – is never a good idea. Even if you are completely blameless in the matter, departing the scene before police arrive is liable to create the impression of guilt. So, unless you genuinely feel as if remaining at the scene places you and your passengers in immediate danger, you would do well to stick around until law enforcement shows up. If you choose to leave prematurely, it is safe to assume that this fact is going to be included in the vehicle accident report – which is unlikely to do you any favors in the long run.
Exchange Information With The Other Motorist
Having the insurance information of the responsible party can make the restitution-seeking process considerably easier. So, provided the other motorist is in any condition to have a conversation, offer them your insurance info and request that they do the same. However, if the individual in question is generally unpleasant or outright irate, avoid sinking to their level. If they won’t provide you with the information you seek, simply hang back and wait for the police to arrive. In all likelihood, you’ll be able to get it from them after they’ve spoken to the responsible party.
Contact An Attorney
If you are having trouble getting your insurer – or the responsible party’s insurer – to pay what’s owed, don’t hesitate to contact a good attorney. The right lawyer will be able to get you the restitution you seek in a timely and low-stress manner, thereby saving you a significant amount of hassle. Accident victims in the Mile High City would do well to reach out to a Denver personal injury law firm.
Car Crash Conclusion
Even auto accidents that aren’t particularly serious in nature can leave victims deeply shaken. After all, the fact that no life-threatening injuries were incurred doesn’t mean that the danger was any less real – or that things couldn’t have gone very differently. As such, you are well within your rights to seek restitution in the wake of an auto accident caused by another party.
Wanting to put the incident behind you is perfectly understandable, but this shouldn’t entail allowing a negligent motorist to get away scot-free. Anyone looking to get the compensation they are owed following a car accident would do well to remember the pointers discussed above.
