![]() Your failure to describe it at your initial medical appointment could make it difficult to prove it was related to the accident. If you later claim an injury that is not reflected in your initial medical records, the insurance company will argue that the injury is not genuine or related to the accident.Ī slight pain in a certain area that you did not believe was worth mentioning could intensify over time and become a serious injury. As a result, these medical records will be relied upon by the insurance companies when they evaluate your injury claims later. The medical providers will be documenting your complaints and injuries in their medical records. When receiving initial medical treatment following an accident, it is important to describe your injuries thoroughly and in detail. Always seek out medical treatment for your injuries immediately following the accident.Ĥ. ![]() In other words, if you do not receive medical treatment immediately following a car accident, the insurance companies will use this as an opportunity to claim your injuries are either fake or not caused by the accident. The insurance companies will also suggest that you did not seek out medical treatment until you were told by an attorney to do so. The insurance companies also argue that your injuries were caused by some event that occurred following the accident and before the time you first sought out treatment. Insurance companies often claim that if you did not take an ambulance to the hospital for treatment, or that if you waited a few days for the pain to go away before seeking out treatment, that you were not really injured. This is the defense that the insurance companies repeatedly raise. To the contrary, the longer you wait to receive medical attention, the more likely the insurance company will argue that you were not hurt as a result of the accident. This is not the time to worry about medical expenses and hope that the pain will go away. If you believe you were injured as the result of a car accident, you should receive medical attention immediately. Make sure you obtain witness information at the scene of the accident if you are able to do so.ģ. In the event you need a witness to testify at trial, you will need his or her information. If a witness has a common name like John Smith, it may be impossible to track him or her down later. A police report may simply list a witness’s name without a phone number or other identifying information. In addition, often times, police reports do not list witnesses with enough detail to contact them later. By obtaining witness information you can help law enforcement determine who was at fault. As a result, by the time law enforcement makes it to the scene, important witnesses may have left leaving you in a situation where it is just your word versus the other driver’s. Often times, third party witnesses will not wait at the scene of the accident until law enforcement arrives. If there are witnesses to the accident and your injuries do not prevent you from talking to them, you should obtain their contact information. Always call law enforcement and have a report made following a car accident.Ģ. The other driver could even deny that the accident occurred altogether, leaving you in a position of asserting a claim against an insurance company that takes the position that its insured driver was not involved. ![]() Although the other driver may say they were at fault at the scene and offer to take care of it informally, his or her story could change later. Without a law enforcement report, you expose yourself to a “he-said, she-said” situation. A law enforcement report that sets forth who was at fault is the single most persuasive piece of evidence in proving liability. First, law enforcement will do a preliminary investigation, interview the parties, interview third party witnesses, examine the scene of the accident, inspect the vehicles, and provide a determination as to who was at fault in the accident. It is important to alert the authorities to an accident once it has occurred. Make sure to call law enforcement and have a report made. Below is a ten step list that will protect your rights and help you when seeking a recovery from the insurance company.ġ. If you have been hurt in a car accident there are certain things you should do immediately following the collision to ensure that you have the best chance of receiving full compensation for your injuries. 10 Steps to Follow If You Have Been Injured in A Car Accident
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