What to do following an accident
If you have been injured in an automobile accident, you should do the following:
- Consult an attorney for legal advice as soon as possible
- Review your insurance policies to find out what is covered and what is excluded.
- Notify your insurance company right away after you are in a car accident
- Take pictures if you can: of your vehicle, the accident site and your injuries.
- Take notes when you speak with your insurance company. Make a record of the names, job titles and phone numbers of the representatives with whom you communicate. If you can, get the names of their supervisors, too. Note what you discussed and what you or the representative promised to do.
- Tell your insurance company the truth. Not only does this save everyone a lot of time and effort, but questions of legal liability can be complex. If you fail to be forthcoming with your insurance company, this could invalidate or reduce your coverage.
- Investigate whether you have additional insurance coverage. Depending on the circumstances, supplemental coverage may come from another auto insurance policy, a homeowner’s policy or umbrella coverage.
- Keep the receipts for money you’ve spent on car rental, medical bills and purchases made in connection with the motor vehicle accident.
Should I Contact My Own Insurance Company
Most auto insurance companies require their policyholders to promptly report every auto accident. Such practice allows insurance companies to collect all of the basic information concerning the accident for its records, whether you are at fault or not. Often, insurance companies will seek your uthorization to make a recorded statement concerning the accident. We suggest that if you or your passengers were injured in the accident, believe the insurance company might try to claim you are not covered, or have any concerns about the adequacy of your coverage, you should contact an attorney before you proceed.
NOTE: You should never give a statement to the other driver’s insurance company without consulting with an attorney. Failure to provide information to your insurance company on a timely basis, however, could result in loss of coverage for the accident, without it constituting bad faith by the insurer. Your policy will set forth how quickly you must notify the company.
Should I Talk To The Other Driver’s Insurance Company
Never give an oral statement to the other side’s insurance company. If you are contacted, decline to talk. Insurance companies’ claims adjusters are professional negotiators, with extensive experience in maneuvering you into giving incriminating information.
Claims adjusters are well trained by insurance company lawyers to ask questions in a manner designed to hurt you, and help them. Do not speak with them. Simply say thank you for calling but I am not prepared to discuss this matter with you at this time.
Should I Go To The Doctor
If you feel any pain or discomfort, seek medical attention immediately. Many times the onset of physical complaints begin after an accident. Waiting to get treatment is not only not good for your health – it will hurt your chances of obtaining an appropriate settlement for your injuries, since there will be no medical record of your injury at the time of the accident. Seeing a doctor following the accident will insure a preliminary diagnosis, and perhaps minimize any discomfort and future treatment.
If your condition required immediate medical care, hospital records will confirm your injuries. Make sure you promptly follow-up with treatment from your regular doctor or an appropriate specialist following hospitalization.
Is there anything special I should tell my doctors?
When you are reporting your injury to police, paramedics, hospital staff, and doctors, identify specific complaints, and do not omit any complaint you may have, no matter how minor. Anything that is out of the ordinary is a symptom and should be reported.
Most auto insurance companies require their policyholders to promptly report every auto accident. Such practice allows insurance companies to collect all of the basic information concerning the accident for its records, whether you are at fault or not. Often, insurance companies will seek your uthorization to make a recorded statement concerning the accident. We suggest that if you or your passengers were injured in the accident, believe the insurance company might try to claim you are not covered, or have any concerns about the adequacy of your coverage, you should contact an attorney before you proceed.
NOTE: You should never give a statement to the other driver’s insurance company without consulting with an attorney. Failure to provide information to your insurance company on a timely basis, however, could result in loss of coverage for the accident, without it constituting bad faith by the insurer. Your policy will set forth how quickly you must notify the company.
When Should I Contact An Attorney
After leaving the scene of an accident, you should immediately contact an attorney who is experienced in handling personal injury matters. At the Law Office of Constantine G. Anagnostis, we will arrange for a free consultation and case evaluation, so as to enable us to immediately take action on your behalf. If necessary, we will have an investigator conduct a thorough analysis of the accident scene.
Should I call the police?
Following an accident, you should contact the police immediately. Upon arriving, police will take witness statements and examine and investigate the accident scene. The police can also be valuable witnesses to your injury at the scene, and they can assist in securing an admission of fault from the negligent driver. Always consult with your doctor and an experienced attorney to make sure that you are aware of all of the avenues of recovery available to you.
Contact
At the Law Offices of Constantine G. Anagnostis, our focus in on people and their problems. Whether it is a case involving personal injury, products liability, wrongful death, or business disputes, at the Law Offices of Constantine G. Anagnostis, we provide the knowledge and emotional support necessary to best ensure our clients a favorable outcome and peace of mind. Mr. Anagnostis provides the utmost personal dedication to each and ever case, and truly cares about his clients. At the Law Office of Constantine G. Anagnostis, we look forward to helping you. If you would like any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us.