In the event of a car accident, it is vital to assess your injuries, get them treated as soon as possible and get in touch with an Irvine automobile accident attorney. The longer you wait before seeing a lawyer for help with insurance claims processes, the more it can result in lost wages from missing work due to illness. This will be helpful if the medical treatment goes beyond what’s covered under standard auto policies.
It can be hard to think clearly when you’re in an accident. You might not know what happened or how your injuries would affect you if there was damage to both vehicles. Government data corroborates that around 38,000 people die every year in car accidents on U.S. roadways. This means that the fatality rate is 12.4 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. At the same time, 4.4 million are seriously injured as a result of these accidents.
Here’s some general information that will help with making claims after the incident has occurred.
- At the Scene: Call Emergency Services Right Away! If you are injured during this event, then you need medical attention right away.
- Identify Yourself: Make sure everyone knows who has been involved, whether it’s a driver or a passenger.
- Exchange Information Between All Parties Involved.
Now let’s get into the details of what you should do step by step if you find yourself in an automobile accident.
Get Yourself Out of Danger:
Drive carefully to the side of the road if you’re not injured in an accident. If someone else was hurt, leave their vehicle where it is and call for help before going further with any injuries that might be urgent!
The best way to avoid being injured in an accident is by staying aware of your surroundings and avoiding danger. Even if you don’t think that you’ve parked safely, be extra careful when getting out of the car because accidents can happen quickly – especially on busy streets or highways.
Contact the Police After the Car Accident:
If you’re involved in an accident and find yourself injured, it’s a good idea to call the police. You may need their report for filing your insurance claim. You have to make sure that you get a copy of the police report from the police officer at the scene. This will help you file your claim to the insurance company.
In some states, police do not show up at the scene of a minor accident. This makes it even more important to record as much evidence as you can at the scene of the mishap. If the police do show up, note down the name, badge number, and contact information of the police officer.
An Irvine automobile accident attorney would suggest that if the police officer cannot provide a copy of the police report at the scene of the accident, you can get it later from the law enforcement officer or through the insurance adjuster.
Collect Important Information:
When you’re involved in a car accident, before contacting an Irvine automobile accident attorney, take pictures of any documents and get the name/address of everyone who was at fault. If there is no registration or insurance for that vehicle, then determine whether they are related to its owner by looking up their information on databases.
You should also gather all vehicle information, including the year, make, and model, as well as color. In addition, you might want to get the contact numbers of some nearby witnesses who may have witnessed the accident. Their statements can be helpful in getting your claim.
Notify Your Insurance Company:
You cannot be rewarded for negligence. Therefore, the sooner you notify your insurance company about this car accident, the better! It would be best to make sure that medical benefits are included in any policies before submitting an injury-related bill or expense claim. This is known as “Medpay.” With Medpay coverage, you can recover your accident-related medical expenses.
As tempting as it may be to negotiate a cash deal and avoid making an insurance claim, notifying your company after the car accident can lead you into trouble.
Seek Medical Attention
If you have a car accident and think that you are not injured, you should know that you can never be sure of it. You may have internal injuries and not realize it, so seek medical attention straight away. Many people also experience delayed pain and symptoms, often a day or two after the accident. A lot of our clients don’t feel discomfort for some time after major accidents until they find out about the injury later.
The impact of a car accident is something you should never take lightly. Accidents can cause serious injuries following the collision. And during this period, you may have suffered a brain injury without knowing it, only to discover it later down the line when issues begin to manifest.
Keep a File:
You should gather all the information related to your accident compiled in a file. This file should have information such as the claim number, the claim’s adjuster (the one who is handling the claim), phone numbers, and names of all contacts. You should also get your hands on the receipts for a rental car and other incurred expenses.
Be Proactive:
In order to remain calm and collected at the scene of an accident, it is important that you have all your registration paperwork ready. In addition, keep proof of insurance and contact information in a designated spot in your car. This will help you remain calm to reach these documents at the time of an accident; you’d be more vigilant and calm.
Reach Out to an Irvine Automobile Accident Attorney:
Remember, the insurance companies will go to any length to deny or low-pay your insurance claim. This is where an Irvine personal injury attorney will come forward to help you recover what you deserve.
