You might never have been involved in an accident, but it might happen at some point in your life. It’s not something that you can predict. It is not something that people like to think about either. However, it’s bound to happen sooner or later, and unfortunately a driver could be in an accident three or four times in their life.
So, what happens when you have been involved in an accident, what do you need to do? If you’ve been injured in a car accident which was caused by another driver’s negligence, you’ll need to file a personal injury claim and make sure to hire a Car accident attorney to help you with your claim. This claim will help you get any compensation for the damages (e.g. injuries, mental duress, medical bills) that you have experienced, and any damages done to your car.
It might also happen that you had been hailing the services of a ride-sharing company; or have been hit by a vehicle that was registered under the services of such a company like Uber and Lyft. What action do you take then, for such an unfortunate situation? In such a case it is crucial to have experienced and dedicated legal professionals for guidance. An expert Uber Accident Lawyer with a deep understanding of ride-share laws and regulations can help you understand which insurance claims to file as navigating the legal landscape of ride-share accidents can be complex.
What Should You Do at the Accident Scene?
When you have been involved in an accident, there are a few things that you need to do first. The most important thing is to check any passengers in your car (if you are able to) and the occupants of the other vehicle for any injuries. If you or someone has been injured, then make sure you get medical treatment. Some injuries are obvious, like bleeding cuts and broken bones, but other injuries could be difficult to see and could be potentially life threatening (such as traumatic brain injuries and internal bleeding).
You need to make sure that you tell the emergency responders about every symptom, even if you think it’s something small like a headache or blurry vision. If paramedics want to transport you to the hospital, then go with them. If you aren’t taken directly to the hospital, then you still must seek medical attention the same day if possible. Refusing or delaying medical treatment can seriously undermine your injury claim, as they can claim that your injuries weren’t caused by the accident. Make sure that you are able to take pictures of the accident as well, where it happened, the damage to your car and any obvious pictures of the injuries you sustained, as this can all be used as evidence. You can then get in contact with an experienced Boston personal injury attorney or someone similar from a law firm of your area, to help you identify and pursue all possible sources of compensation, including medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, property damage, and punitive damages.
Starting the Claim Process
If you have been involved in an accident then you need to make sure that you notify your insurance company, even if it wasn’t your fault. You need to make sure that you do this as soon as possible, as you are contractually obligated (this is a clause that will be in your auto policy). Your insurance company will then have a duty to defend you against a lawsuit, as you never know when someone from the other car will hire an attorney and try and sue you for the crash.
You should also make sure to contact the other driver’s insurance company, you don’t have to rush it, but you should also make sure that you don’t leave it forever, as some places have a time limit on these sorts of things. If you are sitting in a hospital bed and want to get it all done and dusted, then hiring a car accident attorney from the likes of the Echavarria Law Firm could be profitable. They can handle your claim for you. This means that you will have more time to focus on your recovery.
What Damages You Can Claim For?
Don’t try and be the better person after an accident. If you have been injured, then you can put a claim in. An injury isn’t just a broken bone though, there are many things that you can claim for if you were involved in an accident. These things include medical bills such as emergency medical assistance bills. You may also have injured your spine or neck during the accident which would require the services of an Auto Injury Chiropractor. You can claim the bills for such therapy sessions as well. In addition to that you may have out-of-pocket expenses (e.g. you’ve had to pay to fix your car), lost wages due to having to miss work, and also pain and suffering from your injury. Make sure to keep a receipt of all such expenses.
You will need to make sure that you have proof that the at-fault driver caused the accident, proof that the accident caused your injuries and proof of the value of your damages though. This is why having things like a dashcam can help you out, as this is solid proof. You can also make sure to take photos and get any witnesses as well. If you are worried about getting into a car accident (and you are worried that you might be the reason for the accident), then check out this article here about 5 precautions you can take to ensure safe and smooth driving, this will at least help you drive more safely as well. But don’t forget to keep your eye out for other drivers who might cause an accident!