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If you are involved in a car accident, there are some things you can do that are crucial for your well being and to increase your chances of recovering money damages. Following are a few suggestions of crucial steps to take following a car accident.
CONTACT LAW ENFORCEMENT
Immediately after the accident, you should contact law enforcement. In many accidents, people fail to contact law enforcement for a variety of different reasons. Law enforcement can play a crucial role in assisting with various aspects of a car accident case. This includes:
- Making a report about the accident
- Identifying witnesses and taking statements
- Issuing citations when the accident occurred due to unlawful behaviors
- Taking photographs and video recordings of the accident scene
- Taking measurements (e.g., skid marks)
- Documenting the road, weather, and lighting conditions
- Completing evidentiary tests (e.g., field sobriety tests, breath tests, etc.)
All of this could prove to be useful in pursuing a claim for damages against the other driver.
SEEK OUT IMMEDIATE AND CONTINUING MEDICAL TREATMENT
Immediately after the accident, seek out medical treatment. You should do this even if you do not notice any apparent issues. Receiving medical assistance is not only important to ensure your overall health, but it also will help identify your injuries and preserve evidence of the same.
Because some symptoms of some injuries may not immediately manifest themselves, you should schedule follow-up appointments with medical providers if you experience any aches or pains that you did not immediately notice.
Finally, be sure to comply with all recommended treatment and follow-up appointments. The law requires you to mitigate your damages, which means that you take actions to prevent your injuries from becoming worse.
Medical treatment providers may prove to be important expert witnesses to corroborate the extent of the injuries you experienced from the car accident. Your expenses related to the various medical appointments and treatment may be recovered as part of a settlement.
DOCUMENT EVERYTHING
A car accident personal injury claim must be supported by evidence that proves the elements of negligence. To prove your case, you may need to present information to insurance adjusters to show that the other driver was at fault, you did not contribute to the accident, your damage and injuries are real, and your out-of-pocket expenses can be verified.
Some examples of evidence that may be useful in a car accident case may include:
- Accident reports
- Witness statements
- Medical records
- Photographs
- Video recordings
- Daily journal entries (documenting your experiences and health)
- Wage information
Insurance adjusters are often looking for reasons to limit or deny liability, so it is important to have evidence available to challenge their reasoning when this occurs.
CONTACT A VIRGINIA PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY
As soon as possible after a car accident, contact a Virginia personal injury attorney. A personal injury attorney can provide you with legal advice that is specific to your situation. This will help improve your chances of successfully receiving a settlement to compensate you for your injuries.
An attorney can assist with all aspects of your claim and act as an advocate for you. They can help you gather the necessary information for your case and file a claim against the other driver. An attorney will know how to respond to insurance adjuster tactics.
They will provide you with an experienced legal perspective to help you make informed decisions when you are presented with different options. Throughout the claims process, an attorney will protect your rights. If insurance adjusters are unreasonable with their offers, then an attorney can pursue your claim through the litigation process.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, then the team at Huffman & Huffman is available to assist. Contact a lawyer from Huffman & Huffman to learn more about your rights under the law.
Call (757) 599-6050 today to schedule your free case evaluation.
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