Understanding the Basics of Consumer, Financial and Personal Injury Law

Involved In An Auto Accident? Do These 3 Things

An auto accident is a very traumatic event, which can lead to injury, unexpected expenses, and stress. You may think your priority should be recovering from any injuries you sustained due to the accident, but ignoring other important things can lead to not receiving the settlement you deserve. Make sure to do these 3 things after your auto accident occurs.

Visit A Doctor Immediately

In a serious automobile accident, chances are you'll be taken to the nearest hospital by an ambulance and not have much choice in the matter. For less serious accidents, you still need to get looked at by a doctor to determine the extent of injuries that you have.

While recovering from injuries is a main concern, documentation of your injuries is just as important. A reason that injury claims are sometimes denied is because the victim did not visit the doctor soon after the injury, demonstrating that the injury was not severe enough to warrant a medical evaluation. Late medical attention is also a reason to be suspected of insurance fraud, since injuries from an unrelated accident can be blamed on the auto accident when a long stretch of time passes between the accident and the doctor visit.

Hire An Attorney

The best way to ensure that you receive a fair settlement is to hire an attorney. The most difficult part of any settlement is negotiating with the insurance company, and an attorney will have prior experience where they know how to negotiate and what to expect.

Be aware that auto accident attorneys will work on a contingency payment basis, meaning they receive a percentage of your insurance settlement. This means there is no financial risk of going after an insurance company for a settlement if you do end up losing. Of course, your case must be strong enough to find an attorney that is willing to work for you.

Keep Very Detailed Records

Many factors that make up your insurance claim will be medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. You should be very diligent about keeping documentation to help prove these things. While medical bills and your lost wages are easy to track, you should keep a journal that details pain that you have been experiencing after the accident. Your lawyer, one like Davidson Law Center Inc, can help guide you as to what sort of information you should be recording in your journal.

Without the proper documentation, you'll run the risk of not receiving the best settlement you can get.


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