After a car accident, everything feels out of your control. You may be flustered by the injuries and damages incurred during the collision. Or, even if you made it out of the crash with hardly a scratch, the shock of the incident alone is enough to send a person mentally reeling. Still, there are numerous factors to manage in the aftermath to ensure that your case is appropriately documented and that the appropriate party is held responsible. To assist you in the process moments after your incident, the experienced car accident lawyers at Riddle & Brantley have provided a complete guide to filing claim after your car accident. You are entitled to compensation as the victim of the accident.
- Contact the Police
Filing a police report is critical to your case. The details recorded in this document will objectively and accurately represent the happenings before, during, and after the crash. Often, the negligent party will attempt to misrepresent their part in the incident – some will even lie about being on the scene at all – so, the officer’s representation is crucial to your claim. If you feel any soreness or notice any bleeding, make sure to give this information to the police as well. They will take down details for every aspect of the incident, so the case does not come down to a “he-said-she-said” situation.
- Document the Scene
After you’ve given a full account of the crash to the police, document the details of the crash on your own. Make sure to take photographic and video evidence of all damages and injuries, and take note of the location and environmental conditions in which the crash happened. Record the personal information of all parties involved, so you can accurately represent who was involved in the incident.
- Report the Incident to the DMV
State laws vary slightly on this matter, yet all require drivers to report auto collisions within a specified timeframe. For example, in California, drivers must report any crashes they were involved in (whether they were the victim or guilty party) within 10 days. Neglecting this step could result in some serious repercussions, including the revocation or suspension of your license.
- Call Your Insurer
Now that all information has been reported to the appropriate authorities, you are ready to close in on your claim by contacting your insurer. Up until this point, all authorities that you’ve contacted have documented evidence of your incident, all within a reasonable timeframe and with the utmost accuracy.
Once you partner with a car accident lawyer, all reports will be used to build a strong case for you in pursuit of compensation. Even a visit to the hospital after the incident will be critical to your case’s success, so make sure to collect copies of all discussions and reports related to the collision. Following these steps and hiring an experienced car accident attorney will ensure that you receive exactly the compensation you need to achieve a full, peaceful recovery after your car accident. Get in touch with an attorney today to get started.