In the United States, about 3 million people get injured in car accidents each year.
If you’ve been injured in an accident, there are some things you should to help yourself out in the future.
Depending on how bad your injuries are, you might lose money in medical bills or not being able to work. Follow these rules to improve your chances of getting compensation.
1. Call 911
Right after the car accident, make sure that you alert the authorities. Not only can they help be a mediator between you and the other party involved, but they will also keep official records of everything that happened.
When you call the police to an accident, they will investigate everything that happened. They will interview you and the other person who was involved in the car accident. They will also interview other people who witnessed the accident just to make sure all the stories line up.
Once they’re done with their investigation, they will file a report on who is at fault. If you didn’t call the authorities and have them file a report, you’d be stuck in a never-ending loop of “he said/she said.”
Even if the driver at fault says that they’ll accept responsibility, you should still call the authorities. They might want to change their story later, and without a police report, it’s your word against theirs.
2. Be Careful of What You Say
Once you’ve called the authorities, be careful of what you say to them and to the officers.
If you injured someone else in the accident too, don’t apologize or say that you were speeding or didn’t see them. This is the same as admitting fault and can hurt you later.
Some people might see this as dishonest, but there’s no rule that says you have to say any of it. Just be quiet and don’t give out a lot of information.
3. Get Eyewitness Accounts
If you’re not too injured, make sure that you try and get your own eyewitness accounts.
Yes, the police should do this when they arrive. But the witnesses might not stay long enough for the police to come, so make sure you get their information and their stories.
If the witnesses leave before the police get there, you won’t have anyone to back up your story.
Even if the witnesses stay long enough for the police to interview them, they may not list their contact information. When it comes time to file a report, you’ll need their contact information to back up your stories.
4. Go to the Hospital
After you’ve done all of these steps and gotten everything square away at the site of the accident, go to the hospital.
Not only will you need to make sure your injuries aren’t too serious, but you’ll also need proper documentation of them. If they are serious injuries, you will likely need medical attention as soon as possible.
Even if your injuries aren’t that bad, you should never say you don’t need medical attention, especially while you’re at the car crash.
You might want to seem tough and act like your injuries aren’t that bad, but this will only hurt you later in the long run. Explain every symptom that you have to the emergency responders, even if it’s something simple.
They might want to take you to the hospital, and you should probably go with them.
If they don’t suggest that you go with them, you should still take yourself to the hospital anyway. Try and go the same day if you can. You could go to your regular primary care physician, but you can also go to any urgent care center.
Regardless of where you go, make sure that you have documentation of your injuries.
5. Let Your Insurance Company Know
Once you’re back from the hospital and recovered, you need to let your insurance company know what happened by filing a claim.
Even if it wasn’t your fault, you’ll still need to file a claim for a few reasons. Many insurance policies require you by contract to let them know what happened, even if you weren’t at fault.
However, the insurance company, by contract, also has to defend you if someone decides to sue you in a lawsuit. Even if it wasn’t your fault, the other party might try to hire a lawyer and sue you instead.
Another incentive to tell your insurance claim is that some policies will provide immediate relief for your bills. This is especially important if you don’t have the money to cover the costs right now but can’t wait until your motor accident claims go through.
6. Find a Lawyer
After letting your insurance company know, now you’ll need to find a lawyer. Do this if you intend on filing a lawsuit against the other driver, or if you had a lawsuit filed against you.
You should find a car accident lawyer that has a good reputation and some specialty in working with auto accident injuries.
You might be tempted to not even hire a lawyer and pay the extra fees, but you need someone who knows the laws inside and out.
7. Get All Your Paperwork Organized
Once you’ve hired a lawyer, you’ll need to have all of your paperwork organized and ready to go.
All of the previous steps you took will help to provide evidence to back up your claim and get you the compensation you deserve.
Discover More About What to Do Now After You’re Injured in an Accident
If you were injured in an accident, make sure you follow all of these steps exactly.
It can be scary and overwhelming after a car crash, but you’re not alone.
Thankfully, we have more information to help you, even in the recovery process. Make sure you explore our website to find more articles just like this one!
