Being in a car accident can be a truly traumatic experience for most of us, and significantly more so if you were the victim of an accident that came about due to someone else’s negligence. Not only does one deserve adequate compensation in this case for their physical injuries, but they should also be compensated for their mental trauma. However, to get your rightful compensation, it is important that you keep your cool after an accident injury, and follow the four below-mentioned steps:
1. Check for any injuries
The very first thing you should do once you meet an accident is to check your body for signs of injury. Even if your injuries are on the minor side, you should call 911 and get your accident and report registered. It is a legal requirement to call 911 after an accident, and failure to do so could land you in legal trouble and limit your chances for compensation. If you are too injured to make the call yourself, ask someone in the vicinity to do so for you or wait for emergency personnel to arrive at the scene. You should also be sure to check for any injuries on fellow passengers in your vehicle.
2. Get medical help
Once you have taken note of your and your fellow passengers’ injuries, you should wait for medical help to arrive at the scene. If you feel your and your passengers are too exposed, unable to move, and could become a potential hazard for oncoming traffic, try to pull your bodies to the side of the road otherwise you could risk added injuries. Be sure to get all the medical attention you need, because failure to get adequate medical help can translate negatively into your insurance claim as the other party could suggest that your injuries progressed due to you not making an effort to take care of them.
3. Document the accident
Be sure to document the accident in any way you can once you find yourself in one. For instance, the very first thing you should be doing is exchanging information with fellow passengers and with drivers and passengers in the other party. This would help you film a claim shortly. Be sure not to discuss whose fault the accident was as their insurance company could hold this against you during the claims process. Be sure to take pictures, and videos, and speak to any witnesses in the vicinity.
4. Speak to an attorney
The final step you should take to get your rightful compensation is that you should speak to a car accident or personal injury attorney. Your attorney would be able to file the claim on your behalf and take care of all related legal requirements. Filing a claim cannot be done on your own, so you should leave this to an experienced lawyer. Your attorney would be able to assist you in the case, investigate, gather evidence, and represent you in court. They would ensure that you get the compensation you deserve or higher than that.
