A car accident is a terrible experience and one that no one wants to have to go through.
If you find yourself in the aftermath of an accident, it’s important to be as prepared as possible so that you can recover compensation from the people responsible for your injuries and other damages.
These five tips will help you ensure you get the compensation you deserve after an accident.
1) Contact an Attorney
If you were injured in an auto accident, it’s important to consult with experienced car accident lawyers in Jacksonville. Martino Mccabe can guide you through your options and help you make decisions that will result in getting the best possible settlement for your injuries.
There are several steps you can take right now:
– Seek medical attention immediately and follow up with your doctor regularly
– Document any expenses related to your injuries (medical bills, lost wages, etc.)
– Gather as much evidence as possible from the scene of the accident and of any witnesses – Speak with an experienced personal injury attorney about your case.
2) Collect Witnesses’ Information
The first step in ensuring you get compensation for your car accident is to collect information about any witnesses.
If you were hit from behind, ask the driver of the vehicle who hit you for their name and phone number.
If it was a hit-and-run, try and gather as much information as possible including make, model, license plate number, or any other identifying features.
Next, find out if anyone else saw what happened and gather their contact information as well. It may also be helpful to take pictures of your damage using your cell phone or other device.
3) Call 911 and report your case
Call 911 if someone was injured or killed in the accident (a picture of this).
Call your insurance company and inform them that there was an accident and if they need any more information they can contact you later (a picture of this).
Contact the other person’s insurance company or their family member, even if they are not at fault for causing your accident, so that they know what happened and how it will affect them (a picture of this).
4) Take photographs after an accident
It’s not uncommon for people to be hesitant about taking photographs of their vehicle after an accident. They might worry that this may cause the other driver to retaliate, or maybe they don’t want anyone else to see the damage.
But it’s important for you and your insurance company that you write down any damage as soon as possible after an accident. This way, if you have to go to court, you can show that you were hurt.
Take pictures from various angles, including close-ups of both sides of your car as well as any visible dents or cracks. The more details you provide, the better off you will be when trying to recover compensation.
5) Record Medical Bills
If you have not already, ask your doctor or hospital for an itemized bill. This will help you identify which medical expenses are covered by your insurance company.
From there, determine what costs are not covered and make sure they’re taken care of. For example, if you were in a car accident where the other driver was at fault and had no insurance, then you should expect to pay for all of the damages that weren’t covered by your own insurance company.
It’s also important to keep track of any medical bills and lost wages related to your injury. This will ensure that everything is considered when you settle with the insurance company of the person who hurt you.