You will probably not be very happy when you are involved in a car accident. You may become angry at the other driver for being reckless, or at yourself for being careless. If your car is damaged and you sustain injuries, you might even be thinking about the long road to recovery that lies ahead of you and how difficult it will be to get through it all. This article will explain the first steps of what happens after car accidents as well as what is expected of you by insurance companies during this early process.
Collect Evidence of the Accident
The first step to proving an injury claim is to gather evidence of the accident. This could include a police report, pictures of the accident scene, witness statements, and medical reports. The more evidence you have in your possession, the easier it will be for you to prove that you were injured during the incident and should be compensated for damages that resulted from it.
Visit the Accident Scene
You should also visit the scene of the accident as soon as possible. There are many things you can learn from an on-site investigation. You might find evidence that will be helpful in your case, like:
- Damage to either vehicle involved in the crash, or any nearby property (like road signs)
- Damaged vehicles, other than those involved in the crash (for example, if a tree branch fell off and hit someone’s car while they were driving by)
- Witnesses to what happened
Contact the Other Driver and Witnesses
When you talk with the other driver, ask them to provide their insurance information and their statement. If there were witnesses, ask for their names and contact information.
Ask You For A Detailed Report of Losses Incurred
When you get in touch with your insurance company after car accidents, they’ll want to know what you lost. They may ask for a detailed report of all the losses incurred as a result of your accident, including but not limited to:
- What was damaged or destroyed?
- How much will it cost to replace or repair the damaged or destroyed property?
Evaluate Your Medical and Police Reports
After you file your claim, the insurance company will evaluate your medical and police reports to determine if they are sufficient to cover the cost of the accident. From there, they might ask for additional information, such as detailed descriptions of what happened during the accident and before it occurred. The reports should also include descriptions of any injuries sustained within a certain time frame after each incident that led up to it (for example: how long after impact did you sustain injuries?).
Conclusion
After car accidents, it’s important to check with your insurance company. They will have a lot of information to gather and you’ll probably be required to answer a lot of questions. It is also very important that you be honest with the insurance company if they ask why the accident happened or what caused it. If you don’t cooperate and tell the truth, there is a chance that you may not get compensation.
On top of being truthful about what happened, it’s also good practice to keep track of all medical expenses related to injuries sustained in an accident since these can affect how much money an individual receives as compensation for their pain and suffering (and possibly lost wages).
