A car accident can leave you in shambles. Even if it is the smallest car accident, the process of getting your money back can be a hassle. Discussing the repair costs, picking a reputable body shop, and even talking to the insurance of the other person. These are all parts of the process of getting your money back.
This process is made even longer and prolonged when you have actual injuries.
Why do injuries prolong the process? This is mainly because injuries need to be proven by both the hospital and the insurance company.
One can’t just claim a certain injury and expect to be paid back off the concept of word of mouth. An injury can be grave and according to the person, it can cost more or maybe it could cost less. This is why when an injury is involved, the process can get complicated.
Steps to Take After a Car Accident
After a car accident, there are certain steps one can take to insure that they have done all they can to report the accident properly.
Call 911
Make sure that this is the first step in whatever you do. The police can sometimes take quite a while to get to the scene of the accident. So make sure to waste no time in calling the police.
Check On Yourself and the Other Party
Make sure that you and the other person are safe and okay. Do NOT overstep the boundaries and apologize. Just make sure that they are okay and they aren’t dead or severely injured. Safety is the priority.
Take Pictures
Take pictures of the damage and the scene. Don’t just take pictures of the car, take pictures of your own injuries, the other person’s injuries, and even pictures of the road to show the general layout and situation of the road.
Get Your Accident Report
At this point, the accident report should be ready and the cops should also start questioning you on what happened. Make sure to tell the truth. Any conflicting or drastically different stories will result in a more complicated case, and no one wants that.
Also make sure to get the police report copy. If it wasn’t your fault, you may not be given one, so make sure to always get a copy.
Never Apologize
Apologizing might be the “right” thing to do, but in court, it also means you are admitting fault. Never apologize, no matter how bad you feel.
Get Medical Treatment ASAP
If you were actually injured and are suffering from the injuries, make sure that you get treated. Follow your doctor’s orders and go ASAP. Delaying your visit even when you are in pain or suffering might hurt your case.
Keep Tabs and Evidence
Evidence is things like bills, receipts, and prescriptions from your doctor that financially prove that you got the treatment and also needed the treatment. Without these bills and receipts, it would be impossible to prove that you ACTUALLY went to the doctor or needed treatment. Make sure that you keep tabs and receipts on all your treatments and medical procedures. Although not stated very often, it is also good to keep tabs on the wages you might have lost. Although losing wages is quite rare, if you get severely injured, losing wages is a common occurrence. Make sure you keep tabs of your lost wages as well.
Speak To a Personal Injury Lawyer in Miami
Why didn’t we mention the insurance companies? Well to put it simply, they are not ALWAYS looking out for you as they should be. In lots of cases, they try to downplay your injury or make it hard to prove that you got injured by asking for excessive paperwork. Although they are supposed to act in good faith, in some cases, the insurance companies will actually be somewhat of your worst enemy. Dealing with THEIR adjusters, agents, and the process in general can be time consuming and frustrating.
A personal injury lawyer on the other hand, is not the same as an insurance agent or an adjuster.
A personal injury lawyer from Miami, especially from Accident Lawyers MIA, is looking out for you. We will hear you out through a free consultation and then proceed to move the case forward. Financial compensation and getting you your money back is our primary goal. Your health and well-being is our end goal and should be yours as well.
