While car crashes are far too common, they are also extremely traumatic and unfortunately very common fact of life. Not only do you suddenly have to deal with possibly extensive damage to your car, but it is also very likely that you are suffering from a painful personal injury. Knowing what to expect next and how to successfully proceed towards an acceptable car crash insurance settlement.
How can I file a car crash insurance claim?
It is possible to file your own insurance claim and reach a quick settlement from the insurance company, but that may not be the best possible way for you to proceed. If you need to make a car accident claim it is best if you have an auto accident attorney to look out for your best interests.
While it may seem that a quick settlement is great, you may have other medical problems and expenses which you do not even know about yet. Signing off too quickly means you will be responsible yourself for any future problems, not the one who is really responsible, the other driver.
Car accidents require a car accident attorney to represent you in dealing with the insurance company. The primary job of a car accident lawyer is to get you the very best settlement. The insurance company has the opposite goal: they want the smallest payout possible. This can leave you with lost wages from not being able to work, and expensive unpaid medical bills. Your personal injury attorney will fight for your best interests against the insurance company.
How do I reach a personal injury claim settlement?
There are three common ways from which you may receive a settlement from your car crash. The first is most often for physical injuries suffered in the car accident. “Medical injury” covers the broad range of damages you may be able to claim for injuries. The most common injuries suffered in a car accident are stiffness and muscular pain in the neck and back. A very common and widely claimed injury is referred to as a whiplash injury. Although whiplash injuries can be painful and long-lasting, these are relatively minor compared to some of the more serious injuries suffered in an auto accident. Serious injuries might include things such as paralysis, head trauma or even the tragic loss of limb.
The second type of damage you may be able to file a claim for is for mental and/or emotional injuries. This would show up as anxiety, apprehension, etc.
You may also be able to file a claim for other property losses in addition to the car. Losses in this category might include damage to clothing or personal property like a laptop. Or it can be for lost wages if you missed time from work due to the vehicle accident.
Each car accident is different, and there is no set formula for settlement, but there are ways to reach a favorable settlement. You may be presented with options such as having all of your medical expenses from the accident paid, as well as any lost wages due to your inability to work due to the injuries you suffered. Your attorney will also help you to get a proper diagnosis of your injuries to determine your ongoing and future medical needs.
What else do I need to know about reaching a settlement on a car crash insurance claim?
You must be able to prove that the car accident was not your fault. Sometimes it is quite easy to make this determination. An investigation will be done, and you will have access to that, as well as the information from a police report. However, if it is not quite clear who is at fault, your case will need to proceed in a different way.
You will need to have witness statements, pictures of the accident scene and the damage to your vehicle and any other damaged personal property One of the most helpful actions to take is to immediately take pictures to gather as much evidence as possible at the scene of the car accident.
Do you need a car accident lawyer? Contact Jeffrey Dawson for a free consultation.