After a car accident, you may find yourself unable to go back to work, drowning in medical bills, and facing unbearable physical and emotional pain. This therefore leads to the urge to successfully put up a claim. It is where the assistance of an experienced car attorney can help. A good attorney can help you protect your legal rights and get the maximum amount of money damages you are entitled to. However, the most important role of a car accident lawyer is to prevent you from making mistakes that may jeopardize your claim and affect the extent of the compensation you get.
Avoiding Deadly Mistakes
Below are five mistakes that you just cannot afford to do in the aftermath of a car accident. Any one of these errors could end up jeopardizing your claim:
1.Admitting fault
Immediately after an accident, you may be in shock and not know exactly how the incident occurred. As such, you should never admit fault to the other party or the police since you simply don’t know what happened.
2.Not calling the policemen to file a report
It is important to call the police to come to the scene of the accident to file a report. The report may be used to prove how the accident happened and who was at fault. However, it is not the police’s duty to decide the responsibility of the accident in the report; the court will decide it.
3.Not seeking immediate medical attention
Even though you have minor injuries, you should seek immediate medical attention after an accident, even if you feel all right. Certain symptoms may take days to surface, at which point your health may be at serious risk. Not seeking medical help you are putting your claim at risk.
4.Failing to get information from the parties involved in the accident
It is important that you collect pertinent information from all sides involved in the accident, including name, location, phone number, insurance details, and driver’s license.
5.Not taking pictures at the scene of the accident
Videos and photographs can be a strong key to proving the negligence of the other party in an accident. Taking pictures of the damaged vehicle will strong, your case. Properly documenting the scene of the accident is a key to a successful case. You should also maintain a medical journal about how the effect of your injuries on your daily life.
Here are the top 10 steps which can be taken to maximize the chances of success in your car accident compensation claim. Knowing these steps in advance of a car accident will help greatly if one occurs, while many will also help for a car accident which may have happened in the past. Remember that only a few of these steps need to be taken to help your case later on in court significantly. The more you can tick, the better, but even one could mean the difference between winning and losing.
1. Try to remain calm at the car accident scene
While it may seem counter-intuitive to remain calm at the scene of the crash, it’s important to try. Apprehending this in advance will assist you to do so if one happens. Becoming angry will not help anyone injured at the scene, nor will it help your legal case later.
2. Alert the emergency services
If someone is injured, calling the emergency services is of absolutely paramount importance. If you remain calm, you’ll be of more used to the operator. Only attempt to help other people when the professionals are on the way.
3. Insurance policy numbers come first
Insurance policy numbers should be the first bit of information that you exchange with any and all drivers included in the accident. Remember not to lose your temper if one of them initiated the car accident as it will damage your case later on.
4. Note down the license plate numbers
Having a license plate number in many countries will considerably speed up the car accident compensation process. Ensure to note down the license numbers of all cars involved in the accident. A camera is an easy and quick way to note down the number, which brings us to our next point.
5. Strongest types of evidence #1 – Photographic
Almost every cell phone these days has a camera on board. Use yours liberally and take as many photos as possible of the scene like this will be a great help later on. Emailing them to yourself will keep them safe.
6. Strongest types of evidence #2 – Eyewitnesses
Be sure to exchange phone numbers, emails and names with anybody who witnessed the car accident happen. Always be sure to let them know how grateful you are that they’re helping you out. They could just secure you the win.
7. Ensure safekeeping of information
We get countless phone calls from persons looking to start car compensation claims which have lost information. E-mailing information to yourself is one of the best ways to ensure safe storage and easy access from anywhere in the world.
8. Respond quickly
Starting your car accident compensation claim sooner means the better your recall (and the better everyone who witnessed the event) will be. A quick start maximizes the chances of success.
9. Always do your research
There are some companies, particularly in Singapore who are not registered with the appropriate regulatory bodies to help with car accident compensation. Make sure you check that the company is registered with the Ministry of Justice, or other appropriate bodies.
10. Use car accident compensation specialists
Once you’re sure that the company you’re considering using is registered with the appropriate regulatory body, call and make sure that they specialize in car accident claims. Working with professionals who deal with this type of case every single day of their lives will maximize a chance of success.
In a car accident case to make a successful claim legal representation can be crucial to get the money for medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses. A qualified car accident attorney can negotiate with the insurance adjuster and help you to build and prove a case against the responsible party.