Four Steps to Take to Protect Yourself After a Car Crash
A reckless driver who causes a car accident is responsible to pay for your damages, including the cost to:
· Repair your vehicle.
· Pay your medical bills.
· Replace your lost wages.
· Cover your out-of-pocket expenses.
· Compensate you for your physical and mental pain and suffering.
Protect your rights by taking these four simple steps after a car accident:
First: Get Medical Treatment. After you’ve been in a car wreck you should seek immediate medical attention from a doctor. You can seek the medical help you need from an emergency room, family practice, after-hours clinic, chiropractor or other licensed health care provider.
Be sure to follow your doctor’s advice about treatment in order to begin down the path to recovery from your injuries. You will need to prove that you are injured based on medical records and the opinions of medical experts.
Second: Collect Information about the Accident
Damages, or the costs associated with your accident and injuries, must be proven with physical evidence. The insurance company will not believe your word without supporting documentation. Collect all the information you can from at the accident scene.
Collect information about the driver who caused the accident, including the driver’s:
· Name.
· Insurance company information.
· License plate number.
· Address and telephone number.
Take photographs of the accident scene, including photos of your car. Also, take photographs of any injuries that you suffered.
Collect information about any other witnesses, including their names and telephone numbers.
Gather information from the police officer who responds to the accident, including the officer’s name, whether the officer is making a report and the report number.
Collect all the documents that relate to the accident and your injuries, including:
· Police report.
· Any other accident reports.
· Photos of your injuries and/or photos of injuries suffered by any passenger in your vehicle.
· Medical bills and receipts.
· Any documents reporting your injuries.
· Vehicle repair costs.
· Any other related expenses.
Third: Do Not Talk to the Other Driver’s Insurance Company or Sign Anything
Insurance companies employ claims adjusters. The insurance adjuster for the other driver’s insurance company represents the insurance companies’ interests—not yours! Adjusters and other witnesses can twist your words and use them against you later. Therefore, do not give a statement to the other driver’s insurance adjuster.
Also, do not sign any insurance company forms without speaking to an experienced attorney first. Insurance companies use many tricks to get you to sign forms that hurt your case.
Fourth: Hire an Attorney
You should contact a personal injury attorney for a free consultation. The attorneys at Contigo Centro Legal work on a contingency fee basis, which means that you do not pay anything up front and the lawyers do not get paid until you win a settlement or judgment.
You should not talk about the accident or your injuries with anyone except the police, your doctors and your lawyer.
Contact Contigo Centro Legal Today
If you are injured in a car accident and do not know where to turn for help, contact the attorneys at Contigo Centro Legal today. Having an attorney on your side who understands your legal rights and will fight for justice for you is the best way to ensure you receive fair compensation for your injuries.
At Contigo Centro Legal, our attorneys offer free consultations, which means you do not pay out of pocket to have our attorneys review your potential case. And, you pay no fees unless we win your case. Contact us today at 816-800-8000 or click on the chat button for more information.