An attorney experienced in car accidents can assist you in crafting a robust and well-supported claim and ensure you receive maximum compensation for your losses. Before beginning, you must document all injuries sustained from the collision and visit a doctor as soon as possible post-crash for medical treatment.
Keep track of every appointment, medication, surgery, or physical therapy session you attend due to an injury – this will show the extent of its impact and how it could erode finances in the future.
Hire an Attorney as Soon as Possible
A car accident attorney helps clients maximize their claims. They handle communication with insurance companies and prevent clients from admitting fault or accepting low settlement offers that could compromise their cases.
An attorney can ensure a claim is worth pursuing by thoroughly documenting any damages, such as financial expenses, future medical costs, pain and suffering, and mental or emotional injury. They may even assist clients who face harassment from debt collectors or hospital staff after an accident occurs.
Document Your Injuries
The amount of money you receive from a settlement is determined by the severity of your injuries and the impact that those injuries have on your life. That’s why it’s essential to document everything about your injury and treatment, including medical bills, receipts for prescription medication, expenses for physical therapy, a journal detailing emotional distress, and more.
Documenting every healthcare appointment, surgery, medication, and other expense demonstrates the exhaustive nature of your recovery process and helps maximize your claim. Your attorney can use this information to calculate your total financial losses, including future expenses, accurately.
Gather Evidence
The stronger the evidence that supports your claim, the more likely you will receive compensation from an insurance company. This is especially true when you must establish fault or the extent of your injuries and losses.
Physical evidence includes:
- Photographs of the accident scene.
- Damage to vehicles.
- Skid marks on the road.
- Other environmental factors that could have contributed to the crash.
Eyewitness testimony is another critical piece of evidence. Other forms of documentation, such as bills and a diary showing how your injuries have affected your quality of life, are also valuable.
Take Photos and Videos of the Scene of the Crash
Taking pictures and video at the crash scene helps your attorney build a compelling case for compensation. If it is safe, capture close-ups of dents and scratches on each vehicle. Also, take a few wide shots that exhibit the position of each car relative to the roadway and other objects, such as street signs or trees.
Be sure to keep your phone steady as you photograph the accident scene. Blurry photos can do more harm than good to your case. If you are too injured, shaky, or otherwise compromised to safely take pictures at the scene, ask a passenger, friend, or trusted witness to do so on your behalf.
Gather Witness Testimony
A witness’s statement about what they saw during the crash is vital evidence. Ideally, witness statements are collected while the event is fresh in their minds and before memories fade. Witnesses should be interviewed in person or by phone so that their statements can be recorded and transcribed later.
Gathering witness statements requires a blend of tact and tenacity. Approaching witnesses respectfully and explaining the importance of their statements will go a long way toward obtaining quality testimony that strengthens your case.
Keep Track of Your Expenses
Maintaining meticulous expense records can help you win a fair settlement for your car accident claim. For example, medical bills are one expense that should always be documented, including any post-accident follow-up appointments or surgery. It would help if you kept receipts for any transportation costs, rental car services, or taxi services related to your accident.
Additionally, you should get dated receipts if you must pay for replacement services because of your injuries, such as childcare, housekeeping, snow shoveling, or dog walking. You can also gather copies of pay stubs or employer statements to establish any income loss associated with your injury recovery.
Don’t Talk to the Other Party’s Insurance Company
While you may need to talk to the other party’s insurance company to exchange contact and insurance information after a crash, it is generally not in your best interest. Insurance companies are out to protect their profits, not yours.
They will look for any reason to diminish their client’s liability and downplay your injuries and damage. They will also likely try to convince you to make a recorded statement. Your attorney can help you avoid these common pitfalls. By following these tips, you can maximize your settlement and receive the compensation you deserve.