Over 3 million people are injured in car accidents every year in the US. If you’ve been in a minor car accident lately, you may be wondering what the next steps are.
Minor car accidents come with all sorts of problems afterwards. You’re left without a car, insurance can be a nightmare, and injuries make it all worse. It’s a recipe for anxiety and managing it all can be hard.
So, how do you proceed? You’ll want to seek compensation to cover for any injuries or damages incurred.
To make sure you win your claim as stress-free as possible, follow these 5 tips.
1. Gather Information at the Scene
After making sure everyone is okay, you’ll need to gather information on the other driver. You should do this on scene as you will not be speaking to them afterwards, but to their insurance company.
Get important information such as their name, their contact info and insurance details. Make sure to speak to any witnesses to the accident and get their contact details too. They can help back up your testimony if you weren’t at fault.
Take photos of the accident including damages, license plates, injuries, and the scene. Insurance companies will need all this information so make sure to get as much as you can.
2. Get Legal Help ASAP
Make sure to act as soon as possible to get a good attorney. Present them with all the facts and evidence so they can help you with the legal process.
Coordinate coverage between your health and car insurers to help ease financial burdens. Get an attorney early so the statute of limitations doesn’t expire and leave you stranded.
Lawyers like Zanes Law will help you with any injury claims and make the process as smooth as possible.
3. Know What to Claim For
If you’re claiming for property damages, make sure you know what you’re entitled to.
This can include vehicle damage and personal property damage for any items in the car. You can claim for a rental car if your car gets written off; most insurance companies will reimburse you for it.
You can claim any other expenses incurred as a result of the crash too. These include a taxi after the crash to get home or to the police station.
You must be sure to present information to prove any out of pocket expenses. If you can’t provide a receipt, the insurance company won’t cover it.
4. If Your Car Is a Write-Off
If the insurance company decides your car is a write-off, they’ll take the car off you. They will be able to compensate you for the car, but what if they don’t offer you enough?
If you think the car is worth more than they offer, you need to prove it. You can do this by giving prices for the same car in the area or for similar cars. An engineer can examine it too for a price.
Your insurer also needs your consent to scrap the car for parts. If you don’t give it but they scrap the car anyway and decide not to settle the claim, you can claim the salvage value.
5. If You’re Injured
If the accident injured you, you can claim for physical and emotional damages.
If you visited the ER afterwards, the other driver’s insurance may want you to agree to a quick settlement. This will usually only cover medical expenses incurred as a result up to that point. Don’t agree to this right away.
Your injuries may take extra time and treatment to heal and can result in more expenses. A quick settlement will not cover these and you’ll be unable to claim for them.
Make sure to seek an attorney who can help you get the best compensation for your damages.
Cover Your Bases After a Minor Car Accident
After a minor car accident, you may feel overwhelmed with how much you need to do. If you follow these 5 steps and have a good attorney, you’ll be able to win your claim.
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