It is important to know what to do when a car accident impacts your health & finances. It is imperative that you take legal action to hold those who caused your injuries accountable. If another person, company, or entity is responsible for your injuries and losses, you can seek a claim against them to recover those costs.
If the insurance company denies that compensation, you can file a lawsuit against those at fault with the help of a Charlotte car accident lawyer.
Document Your Accident and Report to the Police
When possible, take action immediately after the accident to document as much information as possible. This information should include:
- Photos of the damage to your vehicle
- Photos of the damage to the other vehicle
- Video of the surrounding area and any conditions that contributed to the accident
- Photos of your injuries
- Any evidence of what caused the accident
This information, along with the evidence collected by police, will help you prove the other party is at fault. It also helps you clearly demonstrate that your injuries and losses came from the accident itself.
Speak with a Charlotte car accident lawyer and get a free consultation today.
Call (980) 294-4931Get Medical Care and Follow Through with Your Doctor’s Treatment Plans
Seek out medical care immediately after the accident. Ideally, you will go to the hospital immediately after the accident for a full examination. Make sure to tell those at the hospital what happened so they can complete a comprehensive examination.
Follow through with all recommended treatments. That may include lab work, treatment, procedures, and rehabilitation. If you need hospitalization, get it. By taking these steps, you protect yourself from complications. It also demonstrates that you will do whatever it takes to heal.
Make sure you get all follow-up care recommendations. You may need specialist care or to seek physical therapy for some time. Follow these requirements and document all diagnoses, treatments, and costs related to your car accident injuries. Speak with a Charlotte personal injury lawyer today.
Document All of Your Losses Comprehensively
From the moment of your accident onward, document all your losses. When you do, you will create a record of what this accident caused you and how it continues to impact your health and wellbeing. Some of the documentation to keep throughout this process includes:
- Loss of time at work, including any time you missed at work due to injuries, loss of benefits, bonuses, and overtime you would likely have received
- Missed activities due to your injuries, such as not being able to engage in activities you generally do because of physical limitations
- Childcare and other costs that you would not have if you could perform those tasks yourself
- Out-of-pocket costs related to medical bills and transportation
- Equipment, medication, and other supplies you need due to your injuries
- A record of all of your medical appointments and treatments received
Keep a log of this information with as much detail as possible. Include the pain and suffering you have or the impact on relationships, responsibilities, and quality of life. Details in a journal like this can be very important to proving what the accident really cost you.
Notify the Insurance Company
After a car accident, there are several steps to take to notify insurance companies. First, note that notification does not mean filing a claim. You should never feel pressured into agreeing to any specific compensation at this point.
Notify your own car insurance company of the accident. Inform them of what happened, when it occurred, and who was involved. You may need to provide the accident report information, though your insurance company can obtain it as well. Do not file a claim.
You may also need to notify the at-fault party’s insurance of your accident and injuries. You are not filing a claim here, but providing information about what occurred to document it.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer
During this process, it is essential that you hire an attorney to guide and support you throughout. A Charlotte car accident lawyer serves as your advocate, providing exceptional legal insight from the start. In accidents like this, where you have substantial injuries impacting your health and finances, hiring an attorney becomes critical. Your lawyer will provide numerous services to you:
- Manage the insurance company for you. Your attorney will handle the questions, documentation requirements, and pressure from the insurance company. This eliminates the risk of being tricked into settling for too little.
- Document all of your losses. Your attorney will gather as much information as possible about your accident injuries and the implications for your health and well-being. This may include gathering insight into the complications you may have, future medical costs, impact on your future earnings, and other losses you may not realize.
- Negotiate with the insurance company once you reach your maximum level of recovery. This includes proving losses through evidence and holding the insurance company accountable for what you are experiencing.
Your attorney will work closely with you to understand all aspects of your case so they can file a maximum claim for all the losses you have incurred and will incur in the future. This process is comprehensive and must include evidence that substantiates every type of loss you have.
Going to Court
In some situations, you may have to go to court to seek financial compensation for your losses. It is uncommon for this to happen in car accidents, but if there are disputes over fault or other disagreements, you may need to file a lawsuit to recover damages.
Hire a Trusted Attorney to Guide You Through This Process
You have a great deal at stake, and that means you will benefit from the guidance of a car accident lawyer who can establish the extent of your health and financial losses and hold those responsible accountable.
Call Shane Smith Law for a free consultation.
