If you’ve been injured in a car accident, the first thing you want to do is call a personal injury attorney and your insurance company, and the bank, and, it seems, everyone else on the planet. Here’s some practical advice that will help make your lawsuit settlement is bit easier.
This isn’t legal advice, but it’s advice learned from experience working with people who’ve been in car accidents.
If you’ve been injured you’re probably going to need a lawyer who can help you with your insurance company, the other guys insurance company and other parties. That’s first and foremost.
Other than the legal issues, here’s some solid advice.
(1) Keep Good Records. From the police report to interactions with your insurance agency, attorney, car rental agency, towing company, lost wages and most importantly your medical bills or records of your visits. It will make life easier for you in the long run to have all your records in one place. If you’re filing a lawsuit make sure you make and extra copy for yourself, in addition to the copies you give your personal injury lawyer.
(2) Keep Your Doctor Appointments. Your doctor or chiropractor might recommend a course of action which requires you to visit them more than once. Keep these appointments, and of course keep your records. Often with car accidents the injury takes a bit of time to show itself as the body heals from the initial shock of the accident. Follow your doctors advice and course of action.
(3) Keep an “Injury Journal”. Get a regular calendar and write down notes about your injuries over time. This will help your doctor or medical practitioner in determining or modifying your treatment schedule. Take note of any physical limitations, pain or soreness you are experiencing and the time of day.
(4) Don’t Over Exert Yourself. Your doctor will give the same practical advice --- if you’re hurt, don’t overdo it! You have a much better chance of healing more quickly if you take it easy and let things settle a little bit before deciding to paint the house or go back to your regular workout schedule.
(5) Call Your Health Insurance Company. Although they’ll probably know from your visit to the doctor or the hospital, it’s worth a call to your health insurance company or you’re the person at your company who handles benefits to make sure you’re taking full advantage of your health plan. Often plans have additional riders which afford you loss wages, or other compensation. The same would apply to other corporate benefits you might have, but not realized.
(6) Call Your Car Insurance Provider. Your policy might have additional benefits such as car rental, lost wages, towing, etc. that you might not be aware of. Make sure you check the terms of these benefits such as car rental, there may be a time limit, or a cost limit. It’s good to know that going in.
(7) Call Your Credit Card Company. If you’re going to miss work, or wait to be compensated to try and cover your credit cards, it’s a good idea to call them and let them know. You might have been paying a couple bucks a month for some sort of “payment protection” with them that would put on hold, or make your minimum monthly payments for you while you’re off from work.
(8) Call the Bank or Leasing Company. If you are leasing your car it might be a good idea to call the Leasing Company and let them know. They might also be able to help with a loaner car. They’ll appreciate you keeping them in the loop. If you own your car, but have a bank loan, it’s probably a good idea to call them, let them know, and also find out exactly what you owe on the car, and ask them to check what the Blue Book value is on your vehicle in case it makes more sense to “total” the car.
These are just a few of the tips we can share from our experience working with clients who have been injured in a car accident. You probably have some of your own. Remember to keep good records, follow the doctor’s instructions and most importantly, make the calls early to a personal injury attorney, your insurance company and other appropriate parties.
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