A Complete Guide on How to Claim Compensation After a Car Accident
The harsh reality is that vehicle crashes are worryingly common. Some result in fatal injuries, but even accidents with non-fatal ones happen frequently. In general, motor vehicle collisions increased by more than 7% in the United States last year. And this growth comes during a time when fewer people were on the road due to coronavirus pandemic restrictions, such as nationwide lockdowns.
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According to an analysis from The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the leading causes of vehicle accidents, most of which result in more severe injuries, are impaired driving, speeding recklessly, and not wearing a seatbelt. Such negligent behavior when in traffic has significant and harmful consequences. For this reason, many collisions that happen cause people to get injured when the accident occurred to no fault of their own.
Because of this, it is of the utmost importance to know what to do and what not to do in case you get involved in a vehicle crash. If the person at fault was the other party, you are entitled to claim compensation for personal injury, regardless of how minor it might be.
The truth is that the emotional distress alone and the fact that you have been a victim of a trauma, whether physical or mental, is enough to make you eligible for compensation for personal injury. Indeed, it is recommended you hire professional help, as with the support of a personal injury lawyer, your winning chances are higher.
Filing a compensation claim and going through the entire lengthy and stressful process can take a toll on anyone, especially on a person involved in an accident. For this reason, it is crucial to know the necessary steps if you are ever involved in a car accident. Hopefully, this will never be the case. However, it is better to be prepared for such a situation so that you don’t add any more stress.
So, here is a complete guide on how to claim compensation for personal injury after a vehicle crash:
Stop Immediately and Check for Injuries
If you are involved in a car accident, no matter how severe it is, the vital thing to do first is to stop immediately and check for any injuries. Staying calm is crucial; although it is understandable this might be easier said than done. However, if you can, it is vital to check yourself for any injuries you may have. And if you have any passengers with you, this is also advisable.
Depending on the severity of the situation, you know what the next steps are. If you are uninjured or slightly injured, you may be able to leave the car and take the following necessary actions. On the other hand, if it appears your health situation is in any way affected seriously, you should call or wait for the emergency medical team.
Check The Surroundings and Call for Help
If your health situation is not seriously harmed, you may be able to get out of the vehicle and check the surroundings. If possible, you should turn on your hazard lights in order to warn oncoming cars that an accident has happened to avoid any more unfortunate incidents. In addition, you can also set up reflectors to become more visible.
Even if your injuries are minor, it is still recommended to call for help and an ambulance, as you may have something that isn’t too evident. Plus, there are a few types of injuries that can be pretty dangerous if you are not aware you have suffered them. For instance, a common type of car accident injury is related to the neck or spine that comes from a sudden aggressive stop or impact, such as a whiplash injury. In this case, you are entitled to claim compensation, given that your physical health was put in danger and your mental health was also affected.
Document The Accident and Gather Evidence
If your health allows you to, the following extremely important step is to document the accident to the best of your possibility. This means gathering evidence and keeping a record of any detail, no matter how seemingly insignificant it may seem in the moment. When you look at the overall picture, the minor details may become vital for your compensation case.
The type of evidence you should try to gather includes taking photographs of anything related to the accident, from the actual impact to anything surrounding the accident. This will help the case, and the lawyer will better analyze the accident. Apart from this, you should also try to take a few witness statements, make a note of the type of vehicles involved and each vehicle’s license plate number. Anything you manage to collect will be used in your compensation claim, showing how everything happened to no fault of your own.
Limit Interaction with The Other Party Involved
Whatever you do, you should limit interaction as much as possible with the other party involved. Therefore, if you are involved in a car accident, don’t go and speak with the other driver who may have caused the accident. This is to ensure the case is not affected. Therefore, it is best to limit conversation and simply stick to discussing how the events have unfolded with the police, your lawyer, and the insurance company.
In this situation, where you cannot solve the problem amicably, the best thing to do is wait for authorities to arrive at the scene. The respective authorities and a professional lawyer will assess the situation and take the necessary measures. Once you have made sure your health condition is taken care of and you have gathered evidence, it is advisable only to discuss the case with the police and your lawyer.
Hire Professional Help for The Compensation Claim
For your sake, it is better to hire a highly trained personal injury to help you file the compensation claim. This way, you don’t have to handle everything on your own. If you need to follow a complex course of treatment, it is understandable you have little to no energy left to go through a compensation case by yourself. For this reason, you should consider hiring a specialized lawyer. This way, you will be able to have peace of mind, knowing that a professional can support you.
