Being in a car accident is stressful, and not only did it probably prevent you from getting where you needed to be on time, you may have sustained very serious injury requiring medical care too. In the moments after the collision and on, there are things that you must do in order to protect your best interests. Unfortunately, even if you are the victim of an accident, you may get taken advantage of by people who are not watching out for your health and recovery.
We are often taught in driving school what to do in the event of an auto accident, so some of the information provided below may be familiar to you, but it’s worth reviewing so that you know how to respond. But for those who have already been in a serious accident, it’s worth meeting with a lawyer to find out how to obtain the restitution you need from the at-fault driver.
Get Medical Attention
Always think twice before you reject medical attention when at the scene. After calling 911 and having an officer arrive, a medical team is going to be there as well to assess injury and get people treatment if they need it right away. Realize that your adrenaline may be high after a car wreck. In order to protect your health, seek medical care as soon as possible. If you wait days or even weeks later before getting treatment, you will likely be questioned as to why you did not get care for injuries that you claim were severe. After a car accident, your priority should be your health.
Talk With Other Driver
Before leaving the scene of the accident, you will need to get certain information from the other driver that will be useful when reporting the accident. For example, your insurance company is going to need the other driver’s information such as first and last name, insurance company name, insurance policy number, vehicle description, driver’s license number, form of contact, current address, and any other relevant details. Getting video and pictures of the scene will be important, because if you don’t have visual evidence that backs up your claims, it will be harder to get the compensation you are fairly owed.
Consider a Lawyer’s Help
Many victims of car accidents forget that they can negotiate a higher settlement amount than what they are being offered by an insurance company. Insurance companies know what your claim is worth and what they are offering you is terribly low compared to what the actual value of your losses and damages are. Consider recruiting help from a lawyer so that you have someone to watch out for your best interests. In many cases, an insurance company is likely to suddenly become much more cooperative and willing to give the victim a fair settlement amount once a legal team has intervened.
As an auto accident lawyer in Baltimore, MD from Cohen & Cohen has seen before, victims of car accidents may not realize their options in the aftermath of an auto accident. Always keep your health and finances as the priority, and consider recruiting help from legal professionals to be protected from the start. Thanks to Cohen & Cohen for this guest post.
