Top 5 Things TO DO After an Accident
After an accident you can feel frightened, hurt, and confused. The very first thing you should do is always to call 911 and get the needed emergency response teams to the accident scene as soon as possible. After that and the obligatory exchanging of insurance information between parties, the road to take gets a little hazy. What next? Moore Law suggests the following Top 5 Things To Do After An Accident that can improve your chances of getting the compensation owed you if you are not at fault in your personal injury accident.
1. Seek medical treatment right away.
Don’t let fear of non-payment or low funds stop you from getting the medical attention you need. Many clients try to tough it out and unknowingly diminish the amount of their recovery greatly. It is hard to substantiate real pain without the medical notes and visits to prove it.
2. Contact an attorney sooner rather than later.
While clients can still get help after a failed DIY representation of themselves, often their settlements will be many times less than the original potential. This is in part to the sneaky tactics employed by insurance adjusters, and in part due to the lack of medical treatment plan and lien negotiation provided by an experienced personal injury attorney.
3. Obtain a copy of the police report and photograph/diagram the accident.
Good records only strengthen the investigation process and make it hard to refute your claims. And while words can be powerful advocates for your case, pictures are truly worth a thousand words. Both written statements and pictures should be taken in a timely manner and a good attorney will help you do so.
4. Review the insurance policies with an attorney.
Insurance policies are known for being laden with “legalese”, making them difficult to understand and even harder to argue. A personal injury attorney is familiar with the content of insurance policies and the loopholes that companies often try to sneak through to avoid payment. And did you know that your own insurance policy might have coverage that can help you even when you are not at fault? Arizona, specifically, requires uninsured motorist coverage is offered. Your lawyer can help you with these and other specialized insurance coverage issues.
5. Continue with a medical treatment plan until full recovery.
When receiving medical treatment for a serious injury, many people are faced with mounting economic and financial strain. A favorite tactic used to lessen the amount of final settlement is to delay the claim processing, with hopes that the slow process and climbing stress with weaken a claimant’s resolve for justice. An attorney can help you resolve or delay payments and give you the support you need to finish your treatment and secure a full settlement that has seen to your true recovery.
If you need help after a car accident, contact a qualified personal injury attorney and get advice and help you can count on.
