What to Do After a Car Accident That Isn’t Your Fault

Trey Harrell Auto Accident and Personal Injury Attorneys wants you to know what to do after a car accident where the fault may not lie with you.

The first thing to do after a car accident is to call law enforcement so that they will come to the scene. At the scene of the accident, you should do everything that you can to begin to gather evidence. You should remain calm, which is often difficult when you are involved in a serious car accident.

If possible, you should take pictures of the scene and speak to witnesses. You should take their contact information, so they can give a statement and testify on your behalf. At the same time, you should avoid discussing the accident with the other driver. You will not persuade them of their own liability, and you may lose your calm.

Report the Accident to the Insurance Company

You should contact your insurance provider to report the accident. Provide them with a copy of the accident report once you obtain it. If the other driver’s insurance company is looking to speak with you, do not speak with them. The conversation is not one that can benefit you in any way. They are looking to get you on the record with a statement that they can twist into making it look like you have admitted liability.

See a Doctor and Get Medical Treatment

You should get medical help as soon as you can after your car accident. If you were sent to the hospital, you must follow up on your medical care after the fact and do what doctors tell you. If you did not receive immediate care, you should get evaluated after the accident because:

• Many car accident injuries are not immediately apparent and can get worse without medical treatment. For example, whiplash symptoms do not show up until the days or weeks after a car accident, and they can cause permanent injury.
• The insurance company can accuse you of failing to mitigate your damages if your injuries are made worse by not seeking medical care.
• You cannot begin the claims process until you have a complete diagnosis of your injuries and reach the point of maximum medical improvement.
• A diagnosis will help your attorney estimate the value of your case.

If the doctors prescribe medication or rehab, you should follow what they tell you to the letter. The insurance company will check to see if you have done everything possible on your end to recover from your injuries.

Call a Lawyer to Get Legal Help

You should also contact an experienced attorney as soon as you can after the accident. Although it may be difficult to focus on the legal process at the same time as you are dealing with health issues, you cannot let the legal process slide. If you do, you may lose valuable evidence that can be used to prove your car accident case.

You may also be an easy target for the insurance company, which is trying to find reasons to deny your claim or pay you as little as possible. Without an attorney, your legal right to full financial compensation for your damages may be at risk.

You should schedule a free consultation with a car accident attorney. Try to speak with more than one lawyer so you have a basis for comparison. You can take advantage of the time to learn whether you have a strong case and ask as many questions as possible about the legal process. Once you have spoken with a lawyer, you can select an attorney to handle your case.

Get Organized and Work with Your Attorney

In the meantime, you should do everything that you can to get as organized as possible to help your lawyer. It may be difficult when you are dealing with accident injuries, but the more information you can provide your attorney, the more effectively they can handle your case.

You should both make sure to save all relevant evidence and give them financial and medical data in an orderly fashion. Although you are a priority for your attorney, they are also handling other cases, and giving them timely information makes their life much easier.

Be Patient and Let Your Lawyer Fight for You

When you are involved in the legal process, you should be as patient as possible. Do not panic and let your lawyer fight for a higher settlement. The insurance company wants you to jump at an early settlement offer because they want to save money by capitalizing on your worry.

In the meantime, you should remain tight-lipped about the accident and let the legal process play out as well as you can. If you rush things, you may cost yourself money that you and your family will need in the future.

Contact a Charleston Car Accident Attorney Today

Attorney Trey Harrell will work to maximize your car accident compensation when someone else has injured you through their negligent actions. Our law firm prides itself on going the extra mile for our clients and making insurance companies pay up for your injuries. The ball is in your court to begin the legal process by calling us to schedule a free initial consultation.

You can send us a message online or give us a call at (843) 636-8739. You do not need to pay us anything unless we help you win your case through a settlement or jury award.

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