In some cases, these factors lead accident victims to forego pursuing a case altogether; they see the claims and legal processes as unjustifiable, and thus miss out on any financial compensation and aid they may have qualified for after their accident.
However, this is probably the biggest mistake you can make immediately following an auto accident. Not only can pursuing your case in court bring you the crucial compensation you need to get your life back to normal, but you also don’t have to do it alone.
By contacting a licensed auto accident attorney, you’ll stand a much greater chance of seeing your unique case succeeding in court, and receiving the compensation you need to recover. Best of all? These professionals typically offer free initial consultations, so you’ll know what chances your case has before ever paying anyone a dime.
1.) Tend to Immediate Medical Needs
However, before you do anything else, it’s absolutely necessary that you contact emergency services and call them to the scene, and get proper medical attention immediately as needed. There is nothing more important than seeing to your health and safety after and accident, as well as those of others involved in your accident.
Over time, do not hesitate to seek medical attention for any persistent or recurring pains, aches or other medical effects the accident may have had on you or those involved. Too often, victims will ignore these symptoms of serious medical issues resulting from their accident, and never have a professional examine their injuries.
This, of course, provides no official documentation of an accident-related injury, and thus compensation for later medical expenses cannot be given (in the eyes of insurance companies, an undocumented injury will not be the result of the accident in question). To make sure you get the compensation you both need and deserve after an auto accident, be sure to visit with a medical professional regarding any injuries or recurring pains, and have full documentation of these injuries.
2.) Create a Clearer Picture
One of the most critical times after an accident is the immediate few minutes directly following; in this short time frame, road, weather and traffic conditions will be near identical to how they were the moment of your accident, so carefully making note of these factors can bring great support to your accident case, should you decide to pursue it.
In fact, we even recommend keeping a notepad and pen in your vehicle, as you’ll never know when an auto accident is bound to occur; having these items ready on hand to log crucial information regarding your accident can wind up saving your case in court.
When on-location at your accident site, gather as much information as possible regarding:
- Names, addresses, driver’s license and license plate information
- Vehicle model, make and year of any vehicle involved
- Passenger and witness information
- Insurance company and policy information of all those involved
- Road and weather conditions, as well as traffic at the time
- Lighting and other environmental factors
Essentially, you’ll be writing down everything there is to know about your accident and the accident site. To help create a much more reliable descriptions of their accident site, many victims choose to take a series of photographs capturing these details. Like hand-written details, the best cases using photographic evidence are those with a gratuitous amount of photographs to support what you or your representative are saying.
3.) Get Professional Representation Right Away
The best way you can respond to an auto accident, however, requires that you be open to outside help: professional, licensed auto accident attorneys can be your greatest asset in getting the compensation you need following a car accident.
These experienced professionals know the ins and outs of auto accident legal claims, and can help give your case the best chance in court… setting you up for the best potential for success and compensation possible. Best of all, auto accident attorneys will very often receive pay on a contingency plan, meaning they don’t see a penny until you do; instead of flat rates or up-front fees, they take a portion of your compensation and let you take all the rest.
See if your local auto accident attorneys offer free initial consultations; these meetings are great ways to diagnose how successfully you two will likely work together. Choosing the right auto accident attorney is like choosing a work partner. Because of this, its important to weigh your options by judging not only their passion for your case, but also their communication abilities and professionalism.
Avoid attorneys who provide unrealistic or suspicious up-front guarantees, and instead settle on an auto accident attorney you know will fight for your case with your best interests in mind. Contact us today to learn more about how to find an auto accident attorney, or for more information about the best things to do immediately after an auto accident.
