How to File an Auto Accident Claim
In states with no fault, your insurance company will cover medical expenses and lost wages, regardless of who is at fault for the incident. They'll also be looking over documents and gather evidence (photos witness testimony medical records, and expense reports).
The amount you receive is contingent on the severity of injuries and expenses. This article will walk you through the steps to filing an auto accident claim.
Report the Accident
It is crucial to notify a crash with a car promptly. In many states, you'll have make this report to the local police department or county sheriff, the state police, or Department of Motor Vehicles.
If you are able, take photographs of the crash scene. You can use this to help you remember the accident as well as to help with your insurance claim. Photos can be used to display details such as skid marks, damage to your vehicle weather conditions, skid marks and other crucial details.
You should also obtain the information of the other driver, such as their name and insurance company. It is also advisable to request their driver's license as well as their car registration, if they are available.
It's also important to record your personal account of the accident, including what you saw and what happened. Remember that memory isn't always reliable If you don't write down what happened it could leave you accountable for damages or injuries that aren't obvious later. In addition, if you don't report the accident, your insurance company may refuse to pay for any damage resulting from it. You can determine whether your policy requires an accident report by looking up your policy, or contact your agent.
Get Medical Attention
Following a car accident, you should seek medical care and be examined to determine if there are any injuries. A visit to a doctor as soon as possible will allow you to avoid any further complications and can help you with your claim when it's time to negotiate with the insurance company.
It's best to visit an emergency room in a hospital should you be able to, after a car accident. This is because hospitals have access to highest quality physicians, surgeons, and medical supplies. Defense lawyers and insurance companies might have a difficult time trying to limit the amount of injuries that can be treated in a hospital.
Car accidents can result in injuries ranging from minor bruising to serious internal injuries like traumatic brain injury or paralysis. Even if the symptoms, like stiffness and pain don't appear immediately it is important to visit a doctor. These records will be crucial in proving that you've sustained injuries in connection with the crash.
Our Denver car accident lawyers will make use of the medical records to create strong arguments to prove that the negligence of the driver who was at fault for the crash caused your injuries and you are entitled to an adequate amount of compensation for the damages you sustained.
Take Pictures
Photograph the scene of the accident as quickly as you can, and ideally before the police arrive. If you are able capture images of the damage on each vehicle from various angles. It is also crucial to get close-up images of the vehicles as well as any other critical evidence (such as broken glass or airbags deployed) in the event that you are able to do this. If you can't get closeups of the vehicles, place an object like a penny in the photo to give it a scale. It's also beneficial to take photos with and without a flash, because different lighting conditions can reveal some hidden details.
It is also important to take photos of any injuries that you sustained during the accident. Bruises, cuts and scrapes will fade with time, so your photos can be used as evidence of your injuries later on. In addition, it's recommended to take pictures of any other pertinent details of the accident as you can (such as traffic signals, street signs and weather conditions, as well road debris), as these can aid in constructing a more precise picture of what happened.
Contact Your Insurance Company
Contacting your insurance company is essential regardless of whether or not you are planning to file a claim due to a car accident. Your policy may require you do this, and even if it does not, your attorney may require documentation of your losses (like medical bills and repair expenses) to back up your claims.
Besides getting your own vehicle's information and identifying the other drivers involved in the incident, you should also collect any other relevant information you can at the scene, according to Luna. Make sure you get the insurance card of the other driver and make sure you have their name, address, phone number as well as the details of their car insurance (company or policy number). If there are witnesses, you should try to get their names and contact numbers too.
While the last thing you want to do following a car accident is argue with insurance companies it is essential to remain calm. If you are emotional and make statements, they could be utilized against you later in the process. This is why it's often best to hire an attorney take over negotiations. They can ensure that you don't say anything that could be used against you in the future.
Contact an attorney
A seasoned attorney can assist you in negotiating with the insurance company in order to get a fair settlement. They will review all medical records and bills, and consult with your doctor to determine the full extent and the severity of your injuries. If you don't provide them with accurate and complete documentation, they will not give you a fair value.
You may be entitled non-economic damages like pain and suffering, in addition to your economic losses. If the court finds that the other driver acted with gross negligence, recklessness or malice it could make punitive damage a possibility.
You should notify the police if the driver at responsible fled the scene. Also, you should get an original crash report from the police station or online. auto accident attorneys wyoming 'll need it to make a no-fault claim or a liability lawsuit. New York has specific laws that govern automobile accidents. An experienced attorney can explain these rules.