If you get in a car accident, it can be a shocking and bewildering experience. The suddenness of it can be traumatizing, but once it’s over, you should lose no time in figuring out your next move. Here are the steps to take after a car accident recommended by an attorney that every driver should know.
Getting Started
First, you need to contact your car insurance company as soon as possible and let them know what happened. They will have plenty of questions for you, so answer as thoroughly and honestly as you can. The phone number for your insurance agent or company will be listed on your insurance card.
They will want your full name and policy number, and then the start and end date of your policy. Next will be the date and time of the incident, followed by the names, addresses, and phone numbers of everyone who was involved. That includes drivers, passengers, and also any relevant witnesses. The plate numbers and driver’s licenses for all the drivers should be next.
Your insurance company may go so far as to require a sworn statement from you that includes the weather conditions, what time of the day or night it was, and they may ask if you took any photos chronicling the crash site. You can follow their lead in the matter. They have dealt with this sort of thing many times before, even if the claims investigation process is new to you.
Your Claims Professional Is There to Help You
There will next be a case assignment, which is where your case is handed over to a professional with the car insurance company who will be the go-to contact for you claim as it moves along. You will meet with the claims professional to talk over the situation. The agent will look at your car to assess the damage to it, and they will examine the evidence involved with any injury claims. An initial payment will likely be made at that point. Resolution of the case will come next, though how long that takes can sometimes vary. More complex claims involving several vehicles, injuries, property damage, etc. will naturally take longer to resolve. The case will then be closed, hopefully to everyone’s satisfaction.
Consider Hiring an Attorney Specializing in Car Accident Claims
Bringing in an attorney who covers accident claims is something that is not required, but it is often to your benefit to at least consider it. If you were not at fault, then your medical bills should be covered by the bodily injury liability coverage of the other driver. However, no-fault states also exist, where you’ll need to pay for your injuries through your personal injury protection coverage.
These cases can sometimes get tricky in a hurry, which is why you may feel more comfortable if you have a personal injury attorney to help you sort out the details. They can give you expert advice on how to file an accident report with the police, and usually a consultation with them is free. Most of them don’t accept payment unless they win any money for you.
