5 Important Steps to Pursue Injury Claims After A Car Accident

Being in a car accident is a harrowing experience. It is also expensive as it will almost certainly result in both car damage and injuries. However, if the accident was not your fault and happened as a result of someone else’s negligence, there might be a way to mitigate the effects. This will require that you pursue an injury claim and get compensation. With this, you can pay the bills you racked up and ease the burden on you. If you were involved in a car accident and have grounds to pursue an injury claim, follow the steps below:

Get Medical Treatment

The very first step to take if you are involved in a car accident is to seek medical treatment.

Even if the injury you sustain seems minor, you should still see a doctor and get treated. This is because you could have sustained an internal injury and not know about it. Also, do not hesitate on treatment. Doing so will give the insurance company grounds to claim your injury did not result from the accident.

Finally, avoid ‘personal injury’ doctors. These doctors charge exorbitant fees for treatment and therapy. Such fees will naturally be disputed by insurance companies and the burden will eventually be placed on your shoulders.

File a Report

The second step to take if you intend to pursue an injury claim is to file a report with the relevant authorities. You should notify the police of the accident as well as the party that is responsible.

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Filing a police report is especially important as it will come in handy when you are pursuing your injury claim.

Gather Relevant Evidence

Gather every evidence that relates to your accident. Without relevant evidence, you will not be able to prove your personal injury claims and this means you will be unable to seek compensation. Take pictures of the accident site, the vehicles involved, and even the parties. Also, document what caused the accident. Getting the accounts of eyewitnesses will certainly help.

Along with this, collect a copy of the responding officer’s report as well as that of the Emergency Medical Services officers that attended to you. The EMS report will prove the extent of your injuries as well as the medical care you received. The police report will contain information about the guilty party as well as the witnesses, among other things.

Hire an Attorney

Injury claims can be classified into two: soft-tissue injury claims and hard injury claims. Soft-tissue injury claims involve minor injuries and settling them is usually uncomplicated. Hard injury claims, on the other hand, involve serious injuries and are usually difficult to resolve. If your claim falls under the former class, you might be able to resolve it on your own. However, if it falls under the latter, you should not attempt to settle it on your own. The reason for this is simple, you will be treated unfairly by the insurance company. So, hire an attorney.

Pursue Your Claim

Finally, you should pursue your injury claim against the at-fault driver. Notify their insurance company. While the guilty driver might have done this, you should also do so. Then, with the help of your lawyer, pursue it to its logical end. Also, notify your insurance company even though you are not at fault. Most auto policies have a ‘notification clause’ which obligates you to report such occurrences. Pursuing an injury claim is an easy process if you have the right information. With these steps, you should have a good grasp of what to do and how to go about getting due compensation.