A car accident, a major or minor one, can be a very traumatic experience and, in the chaos of the moment, it can be quite easy to lose track of some details which are important when making your claim. Here is a step-by-step guide on what to do immediately after a car accident.
The Devil is in the Details
According to www.nicoletlaw.com, after car accidents, every detail matters. From the vehicle to property damage incurred, it is important to keep a record of every little thing. In this age of cellphones with high-resolution cameras, it doesn’t take much to pull out yours, snap some photos, save witness contacts and even pin exact locations for reference by law enforcement and/or your insurer. If you do not have a camera on hand, it is always a good idea to have a notebook in the glove box for moments such as these
Keep it on the Record
Conversations after a car accident can have as much weight as the accident itself. Taking note of these conversations with any other parties involved helps bring much-needed clarity to the events that transpired, which goes a long way in verifying your claim and getting you rightly compensated. Make sure you capture the various conversations you have with everyone from witnesses to your insurer as well. It is easy to forget some details when one is shaken up. For this reason, recall ability is key in helping your claim stick.
Contact an Attorney
Accidents can be a result of many things, from slight miscalculations to violations of the law like drunk driving. The latter is just one of many reasons why contacting an attorney after an accident is important, with other reasons being accidents with significant property damage or injury to any of the parties involved.
It is therefore important to reach out to an attorney with a track record of handling personal injury or car accident claims.
Now or Never
When it comes to car accident claims, time is of the essence. Different states can have completely different prescriptive periods in their statutes of limitations. In every distinct case, it is always in your best interest to start the process of your accident claim as early as possible. A statute of limitations is a law that places a deadline on certain types of legal actions, such as a personal injury lawsuit, and thus, as an immediate step to be taken when the situation after an accident is expected to escalate, it is important to launch your suit within the state-specific prescriptive period
Keeping Contacts
First responders are a key source of information and can function as witnesses to your claim. It is therefore important to keep a record of names, or badge numbers in the case of a police officer being a first responder, police report numbers, as well as any contact information you can get. This information goes a long way in corroborating and filling in any blanks about the events that transpired leading up to and after the accident, thus greatly reducing the investigation time required for your accident claim.
Your mind might be scattered in those first few minutes after a car accident. But once you can, taking steps to ensure you receive your dues can make a world of difference.
