Being involved in a car accident is an overwhelming, and
often painful, experience. It can be particularly frustrating having to worry
about paying for medical bills and missing time at work when the accident was
not even your fault. The very last thing you want to do in the middle of all of
that stress is ensuring proper compensation from an insurance company.
Some insurance companies are very skilled at minimizing the
amount they pay for personal injuries. Typically, an insurance company will not
be forthcoming about the amount of coverage an insured driver might have, and
can even pressure the injured person to settle for far less than deserved. Personal
injuries fall under Tort Law, and being familiar with it can increase your
settlement considerably. Obtaining skilled legal representation can relieve
much of the stress following your accident and facilitate a more favorable
settlement.
What To Do Following Your Car Accident
There are things that you can do following your accident
which will set the foundation for receiving the proper settlement for your
injuries:
1. Do not claim that you are uninjured immediately following an
accident. While it may feel natural to insist you are OK to reduce the stress
of the situation, making such a statement can cause future difficulties when
injuries surface. Many accident related injuries lay dormant and pain
associated with those injuries can increase over time.
2. Document your
experience as soon as possible following the accident. Your account of the
accident will be much more accurate the closer it is to the actual event.
Having documentation of specific details can help you and your lawyer refute
inconsistent or false statements from the other driver(s).
3. Keep a
journal of all pain and suffering related to your injuries, as well as any subsequent
expenses you have incurred. It is easy to forget or overlook increasing pain or medical expenses over time.
Report Your Collision
All collisions involving a personal injury or injuries are
investigated by the Washington State Department of Transportation (DOT). If the police are called to the scene of the accident they will file an official report. In this case, you can obtain a copy of the official report for your records. If the
police are not called to the accident, and therefore do not file an official
report, it is important for you to file a report with the DOT. Each driver must
file a report within four (4) days of the accident. This is particularly
important if you sustained any injuries. You can get collision report forms
from your local police department, county sheriff’s office, or Washington State
Patrol detachment. Preserving evidence is essential to later establishing that
your injuries are a direct result of the accident.
Get Help
A personal injury lawyer can help you preserve evidence
early in the process. Your lawyer can also be proactive in negotiating with the
insurance company early on, when you are still recovering. Furthermore, most
personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, which means they only
get paid if you do, and will offer you a free consultation to discuss your
options. One very important thing to remember is that time can either work for
or against you. Documenting your injuries, reporting or collision (if not
already done by a police officer) and consulting with a personal injury lawyer
as soon as possible following your accident will greatly help when later
reaching a settlement.
Weitz Law Firm
520 Kirkland Way, Suite 103 Kirkland, Washington
www.weitzlawfirm.com
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