Legal Tips For Handling A Car Crash That Has Affected Your Health

Driving can be very dangerous, especially if the people sharing the road with you aren’t paying attention or are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

If you have been injured because of another person’s negligence behind the wheel, then you are entitled to compensation. If you have not previously had any accidents nor had to make insurance claims, then it’s very likely that the entire process will be somewhat alien to you. Not to worry, we’ve got you covered. This article will offer some legal tips for handling a car crash and explain how you can make a claim for compensation:

Contacting An Attorney

If you want to make a claim for compensation, then you need an attorney’s help. The reason for this is that the compensation claim process can be very complex. It involves communicating and negotiating with insurance adjusters, who are notorious for low-balling. According to one expert car accident lawyer in Lincolnton, NC, experienced attorneys will be able to fight for your rights and get you the compensation that you deserve. If you don’t have much money available, you may be able to hire a lawyer on a no-win-no-fee basis.

Exchanging Details

Immediately after a car accident takes place, you need to exchange personal information with other drivers involved. It is especially important to take the responsible driver’s information so that you can contact their insurance company and advance your claim. It’s alarmingly common for negligent drivers to pass false information off as their own, so try to verify their information on the scene. The best way to do this is to call the number that they give you so that you can confirm it is theirs.

Phoning the Police

If the driver that caused the accident appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs or was driving dangerously, you should phone the police. The police will attend and check the driver out. If they also believe that they are under the influence of an intoxicant or that they were driving recklessly, they will test or arrest them. It is also important that you report your accident the next day. This is a legal requirement in most states and countries. This is so that the police can keep a record of all crashes, just in case legal action needs to be taken in the future.

Contacting Paramedics

If somebody else involved is seriously injured, then you need to contact the paramedics. It is your legal responsibility to get the person injured help if they are unable to do so. If you are injured, then you should call the paramedics for yourself also. Whiplash is a very common type of car accident injury that does not always manifest immediately. Once you call the paramedics, remain in your car unless it is dangerous to do so. This is to protect your spine. Make sure that the other people involved remain in their cars if they are injured.

Acquiring Evidence

You need to acquire evidence proving that the accident happened the way that you said it did. This is so that you can advance your claim. The best way to do this is to invest in a dash camera. These cameras can be mounted to the front and back of your car. Unless a driver hits the side of your car, you will catch them on camera and will be able to prove that they were responsible for the accident. You can also take video or photographic evidence on the scene of the accident, just to demonstrate that they were responsible.

Medical Certificates

A medical certificate is a requirement for many lawyers before they will take on a client’s case. Medical certificates are notes written out by one’s doctor, verifying the extent of the claimant’s injuries. Medical certificates are easy to acquire. The best way to get one is to visit your ordinary physician the day after the accident. Alternatively, it’s possible to get one at ER on the night of your accident. If you are going to get one on the night of your accident, then you need to make sure that it’s clearly and concisely written. ER doctors have a tendency to rush medical letters.

Total Honesty

Finally, make sure that you are totally honest and do not embellish or exaggerate any element of your case. If you exaggerate or lie and are found out, your case can be thrown out and you can be prosecuted. Honesty is essential, otherwise, you are committing fraud.

Car accidents can be life-changing, financially and in terms of your health. If you have been unfortunate enough to have been involved in one, then you need to take legal action. This is so that you can stop the driver responsible from hurting anybody else, and so that you can make enough money to cover yourself for the period of your recovery.