What to Do After a Car Accident  | Ultimate Guide

Your health should be your first concern after a car accident, but your financial recovery is a close second. Every step you take after a car accident should be in service of your physical, psychological, emotional, and financial recovery. An attorney from Blackburn Romey can fight for the money you deserve while you focus on rest and treatment.

Essential Steps Every Car Accident Victim Should Take After Their Collision

Each accident is unique and victims must respond to their unique circumstances. However, certain advice applies to all car accident victims, including these steps that every car accident victim should take:

1.      Get an In-Depth Medical Examination

Motor vehicle accidents are one of the leading causes of death in the United States, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains. There is a significant likelihood that a car accident victim may suffer at least one injury, and it is critical that you get a thorough medical exam after your accident.

Even if you have already received some amount of medical attention, getting an in-depth exam will:

• Ensure diagnosis of all accident-related injuries
• Ensure that you are caring properly for injuries that you’re already aware of
• Protect you from the dangers of untreated symptoms and undiscovered injuries
• Provide a link between your accident and related damages

Those responsible for your accident may hope you won’t go to the doctor. If you fail to establish a connection between your accident and your injuries, you may leave room for liable parties to challenge the link between the two. Medical records dated shortly after your accident may remove doubt about the cause of your injuries.

2.      Say Less Rather Than More (Especially to Insurers)

Oversharing is a hazard to car accident victims, especially when speaking with insurance representatives. To be safe, you should:

• Never suggest that you are at fault for the car accident, as even apologizing may be construed as an admission of fault
• Be conservative in what you say to others involved in your accident, insurance companies, and law enforcement officials
• Speak with an attorney before making any recorded statements to insurers

3.      Hire an Experienced, Capable, and Trustworthy Attorney

A lawyer won’t just protect you from insurance companies. Your lawyer will also provide a roadmap for your case. Once you have chosen a lawyer to lead your case, you’ll be able to focus on your health without concern about your claim or lawsuit.

4.      Focus on Recovery

Finally, you can rest, receive any treatment a doctor prescribes, and work towards full health. If you have a disabling injury, you may learn to live with your symptoms and work through the emotional and psychological toll of your accident.

Understand That Insurance Companies Look Out for Themselves

An insurance company makes a profit by taking in more money through customer premiums than it pays out. This means that your auto insurer has a financial incentive to limit your compensation. Your insurer may act in bad faith by:

• Blaming you for your accident: Though the Indiana Department of Insurance (IDOI) explains that auto insurance is mandatory, a motorist’s fault (or lack thereof) for an accident can have insurance implications. An insurer may claim that you are at fault for the collision to try and avoid paying the money you deserve.
• Undervaluing your accident-related losses: If insurers do not deny your claim outright, they may try to undervalue your accident-related losses. The goal may be to pay you as little money as possible and contesting the cost of medical care, property damage, and other losses may be one way to achieve that goal—but only if you allow insurers to take advantage of you.
• Extending a lowball settlement: Insurance companies sometimes offer quick settlement offers containing less money than the policyholder deserves. Some car accident victims jump at the quick payment, but you shouldn’t.
• Delaying the processing of your claim: An insurance company may delay your claim as a negotiating tactic or for other reasons. This can prevent you from getting the money you deserve when you deserve it.

The clearest way to protect yourself from bad-faith tactics is to hire a lawyer. Attorneys routinely deal with insurers and combat unsavory tactics. An attorney from Blackburn Romey will stand up for your rights and seek to hold insurance companies responsible for the benefits they owe you.

What to Look for in a Potential Car Accident Attorney

Our car accident attorneys meet the criteria that any victim would hope for. When you hire a lawyer from our firm, you get an attorney who:

• Has relevant experience: You should seek a lawyer who handles car accident cases regularly. As a lawyer completes a car accident case, they better understand strategies that work—and those that don’t. An experienced lawyer also knows the challenges that can arise during cases like yours.
• Has the support of fellow attorneys: When you hire a lawyer, you get their firm’s resources. When a law firm has a deep roster of experienced attorneys, you may benefit from the power of several legal minds.

Damages That Your Lawyer May Seek Compensation For

Car accident victims often have similar damages, which can include:

• Medical expenses: When car accidents produce injuries, medical expenses follow. A lawyer from our team will seek complete coverage for your accident-related medical costs.
• Lost income: If your injuries prevent you from working or restrict your hours, you may lose income. You may recover such lost income through a lawsuit.
• Pain and suffering: Our team will seek money for your lost quality of life, emotional distress, psychological trauma, and other types of pain and suffering.
• Vehicle repairs: Liable parties may cover the repair or replacement of your vehicle. If you suffered damage to other personal property, they may need to cover the cost of that property, too.
• Temporary transportation: If you need to rent a car or take rideshare services while your vehicle undergoes repairs, a lawyer can seek reimbursement for temporary transportation expenses.

Car accidents sometimes cause victims to pass away. The attorneys at Blackburn Romey can help with any wrongful death claim you need to pursue. These cases can be extremely difficult, and hiring a lawyer will shield you from the uncomfortable details of a wrongful death case.

Surviving victims of fatal car accidents may get compensation for their loved one’s medical costs, funeral expenses, loss of companionship, loss of financial support, and certain other damages.

Call Blackburn Romey Today for a Free Consultation About Your Case

Don’t wait to hire a car accident lawyer from Blackburn Romey. Our firm treats clients with the utmost respect, which means fighting for the financial recovery you are entitled to. You may face a deadline for filing your case, so contact us as soon as you can.

Call Blackburn Romey today for a free consultation or contact us online and we will reach out to you. There are no obligations when you call our firm and it is a perfect opportunity to learn more about our attorneys and how we have helped many people in your situation.