What to do After a Car Accident: 7 Steps for Victims
These simple steps could help you obtain restitution for your injuries
A car accident can be a disorienting ordeal, but following these seven simple steps could help in obtaining restitution for your injuries. Here’s what to do if you or a loved one has been involved in an auto accident.
Obtain medical treatment from a qualified physician or go to an emergency room as soon as possible.
Keep all medical appointments unless you have a documented reason for failing to keep the appointment. Insurance companies will sometimes attempt to use missed medical appointments as evidence of “failure to mitigate damages”, and will seek to reduce any compensation or settlement accordingly.
Keep accurate, detailed records of any time lost from work as a result of the accident, including the date and amount of time lost.
Keep records of any additional expenses you have incurred as a result of the accident, including receipts and proof of payment. You may wish to pay by check or credit card in order to have proof of payment.
Obtain photographs of the damage to your vehicle. It is important to obtain these photographs prior to sending the vehicle for repairs, to the insurance company for inspection, or to a salvage yard if the vehicle is a total loss.
Obtain photographs of the accident scene, capturing any skid marks, debris, traffic signs or signals, and the condition of the road.
Seek legal counsel immediately to preserve your legal rights. Legal representation is important to ensure that key evidence is properly obtained.
