A Step-by-Step Guide to Filing Car Accident Claims

Let’s be honest: car accidents happen unexpectedly. You cannot predict them. When they happen, they happen.

The only thing that you can really do is fight for your right to compensation. If you have been involved in an accident that was caused by another person’s negligence then you need to make sure that you get the compensation that you deserve.

Do not allow yourself to be injured because another person drove carelessly and did not do anything about it.

Filing Car Accident Claims

This post will explore this topic in more detail and give you an accurate, step-by-step guide to filing for compensation in the wake of a car accident.

Enlisting a Lawyer

A lawyer’s support is vital if you want your case’s outcome to be in your favor. A lot of people make the mistake of thinking that they can represent themselves.

Self-representation seldom works out. This is because most people have no idea what they actually need to do in the event of a lawsuit or personal injury case.

A helpful car accident lawyer will be able to give you all of the care, consideration and professional support that you need. To find a lawyer you need to conduct extensive research and read reviews.

A law firm’s reviews are a good way of determining whether or not the service that they offer is worth paying for. Something else to think about is payment. How are you going to fund your legal defense?

If you are not already very wealthy then it is a good idea to hire a lawyer on a contingency basis.

Contingency is essentially when you only pay for your lawyer’s help once your case has been won. If they do not win your case for you then you do not have to pay.

Giving an Account

Once you have found and hired a lawyer, give an account of what happened. This account needs to be honest and rooted in facts. Giving misleading or false testimony to your lawyer could get you into a lot of trouble.

No lawyer is going to continue to represent a client if they have been caught lying.

When you are giving an account of what happened, make sure that everything you say is rooted in facts and that you do not exaggerate even the smallest thing. 

Your lawyer may ask you for evidence, which is something that will be covered later on.

It is human nature to want to exaggerate the severity of one’s injuries so that a higher amount of compensation can be achieved.

However, if you exaggerate your injuries you run the risk of being arrested for fraud.

You see if the insurance agency from whom your lawyer is claiming compensation discovers you are lying to get more compensation then they will make a counterclaim and sue you in return.

In addition to suing you, they will get the police involved who will likely arrest you for fraud, which can have very serious consequences.

Providing Evidence

After a car accident, it is a good idea to gather together as much evidence as you can. Obviously, if you have never been involved in an accident before then you will not know what evidence you are supposed to get.

At the very least you should try and get photos and videos from the scene of the crash. Having photos and videos can make it a lot easier for your lawyer to prove your case.

Videos of the scene are perfect, especially if they show the guilty driver and the damage that was caused to your vehicle and your injuries.

With all of the above said, if you are seriously injured in an accident then you should obviously not prioritize getting evidence. Your priority should be on recovering from your injuries and calling for help.

If your accident occurred in a place where there is a lot of CCTV then you do not need to worry as much about evidence, as it’s highly likely the entire crash was caught on camera.

In instances where CCTV is involved, honesty is especially important as even minor deviations from the truth can be picked up on and get you into a lot of trouble.

Medical Certification

After a car accident, medical certificates from your doctor and the triaging staff at the hospital can be great evidence.

It will be very hard for the guilty driver’s insurance company to argue that you are exaggerating your injuries and do not deserve the highest amount of compensation if you have evidence of this kind.

You can get certificates for free from medical staff, as stated, at the hospital, or at your doctor’s surgery. When you do ask for a medical certificate make sure that you specify that you want the cause of your injuries written down.

By asking the hospital staff and your doctor to mention the cause of your injuries in your certificate, it makes it very difficult for the insurance company to refuse to pay you compensation. 

Your lawyer will inevitably ask you if you have a medical certificate which is why it is good to pre-emptively get one (or two).

Again, you do not have to pay for medical certificates so there is no good reason for you to not get a few. They will prove invaluable, especially if you are waiting a while to claim compensation and won’t be claiming immediately.

Having Patience

Car accident claims are not resolved overnight. Sometimes, they can take years to come to an end. You, therefore, need to be patient.

While you are waiting for compensation you might want to apply for disability benefits. Disability benefits are paid to people who’re unable to work due to injury or disability.

If your accident caused you either of these things, you will be entitled to benefits. Patience is essential as it ensures that you won’t go mad waiting for your money to arrive.

If you expect to receive it overnight then you have a nasty surprise coming as personal injury cases are by no means quick.

If you have been involved in a car accident then you need to do everything you can to ensure that you get the compensation you are entitled to.

Individuals who are new to claims of this kind should follow each step outlined here in this post so they get the compensation they deserve.