How to Settle an Injury Claim After a Car Crash
When you are just reeling from a traumatizing car crash, it is hard to think rationally about the next steps you need to take. Since it is not fair to suffer due to someone else’s negligence, you must fight for your rights to receive the compensation you deserve. That said, auto accident injury claims can be hard to settle if you are not familiar with the ins and outs of the law, which is the case for most people. However, with some patience and knowledge, you will be able to settle your claim in no time and get the compensation you are owed. To do so, follow the next steps.
Collect Evidence
To settle an injury claim, you are required to have enough evidence of what really transpired at the scene of the accident. Filing a compensation claim when you have no proof that it was the other driver’s fault will only lead you to a dead end. In fact, experts agree that not collecting enough evidence is one of the biggest mistakes people do after a car accident. To collect adequate evidence, you can snap pictures of the wreckage, get a copy of the police report, and talk to witnesses, making sure to jot down their contact information to get their testimony when needed.
Get Medical Treatment
Toughing it out and pretending that your injuries are not severe will not get you far. Even if you think that your injury does not need medical attention, you should still seek professional help. The Morgantown lawyers from WagonerDesai.com point out that insurance companies will poke holes in your claim if you do not get medical assistance right away. Their rationale is most likely going to be that your injury is not serious enough to qualify for a compensation claim. Similarly, if you do not continue getting the treatment you need, you will have a harder time proving that you deserve to be reimbursed. In any case, consulting a medical professional is going to also enable you to collect documents that might help you down the line when you are fighting for your rights.
Contact Your Insurance Company
Even if you believe that the accident was not your fault, you still need to reach out to your insurer. Keeping them in the loop will allow them to contact the other driver’s insurance company and settle your claim. In this case, you will be demanding compensation from the other person’s insurer, not your own. This is what we call a third-party insurance claim. Most probably, your insurer will be able to reach a satisfactory deal for you both, but if they fail to do so, you should certainly hire a skilled personal injury lawyer to take care of your case.
File a Claim
The next step you should consider after you collect evidence and hire a lawyer is to file a claim. Since you have professional legal representation, your attorney will handle all the pesky paperwork on your behalf. It is important now more than ever to provide your lawyer with all the evidence you collected, including the photos of the accident, your medical documents, and the information you got from witnesses. Your attorney will use these details to negotiate with the insurance adjuster and broker a good deal on your behalf. If all goes according to plan, the insurance company will reimburse you.
File a Lawsuit
Sometimes, insurance companies fight tooth and nail to not pay claimants or get away with a cheap deal. If you think that the offer you have received is not satisfactory, then you should look into filing a lawsuit. Your lawyer will take care of all the complex details while you focus on getting better. Most insurers take a lawsuit as a sign that you will not waive your rights. Feeling cornered, the insurance company is going to work with your attorney to settle the claim. However, if you still believe that the insurer is trying to trick you into giving up your rights, you should consider mediation. In a nutshell, a mediator, a third party, will discuss the claim with you and the insurer to find a deal that suits you both. In the unlikely event that mediation does not work, your case will go to trial.
Settling an auto accident injury claim is not easy when you have to deal with shrewd insurers who only care about their own interests. Yet, with enough evidence and an experienced lawyer by your side, you will prevail. Remember that no matter how minor your injuries seem, you have to take care of yourself by seeking medical help and following the recommended treatment plan.
