I always assumed that personal injury cases where pretty straight forward. After being in an accident, any financial losses that you suffered would be reimbursed by the liable party's insurance company. Unfortunately, things only work this way in a perfect world. In the real world, personal injury cases are extremely complex and getting the insurance company to pay a fair settlement requires the expertise of an experienced injury lawyer. Unfortunately, it took me several months to finally seek out the legal assistance I needed. As a result, I waited much longer than necessary to get the compensation I so desperately needed. During this time, I learned more about personal injury law than I ever thought I would. It is my hope that this blog will allow me to share that knowledge with you so that you can avoid making some of the same mistakes that I did.
A car accident is a very scary event, and if you get hurt in a crash it can take a long time to get your life back together. When you're not at fault for the accident, there are several things you have to do in order to receive an insurance settlement that will cover your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. After you're injured in a car accident, take the following steps:
Go to the Doctor
Seeing a doctor after you're hurt in a car accident is essential for both your recovery and establishing the exact injuries that you sustained in the crash. Your medical records from treatment after a car accident will be important pieces of evidence in your insurance claim against the at fault driver. Closely follow your doctor's instructions, and continue going to every appointment until you are fully healed from your injuries. Keep any medical bills that are mailed to you in a file-- your settlement from the insurance company should cover the costs of any medical treatment your receive.
Document Days Absent from Work
As you are recovering from your injuries after the car accident, it is important to accurately keep track of how much time you miss from work. It is a good idea to have your employer sign a document verifying your absences, your current salary or hourly wage, and any paid time off that you had to use as result of the car accident. This information will be used when your settlement is calculated to ensure that you are fairly compensated for your lost wages.
Contact a Car Accident Attorney
Dealing with the other driver's insurance company and fighting for a fair settlement can be quite challenging, so it is in your best interest to hire an experienced car accident attorney to represent you. Your lawyer can handle all communications with the insurance company and present all evidence backing up the settlement amount that you are seeking. If there are any issues with your claim, your attorney will be able to represent you in court.
Don't let worry about lawyer fees keep you from hiring an attorney. Most car accident attorneys work on contingency, which means that they are paid a portion of the money you receive in your settlement. So hiring an attorney after you are hurt in a car accident may not require you to pay any money upfront.
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