May 7, 2015
You have found yourself in an accident and you know that there will be some major actions to follow. You will be out of work, which means no income, but you still have a family to support and bills to pay. Here are a few things you can do to help yourself in dealing with the insurance company.
Take Notes
Your memory is best when the moment is fresh in your mind. You will want to write down what happened before, during, and after the accident. No detail is too small. You might need to refer to these notes when you are filing your claims, or speaking with your attorney. There might have been a conversation or two that you need to “preserve” for the future so figuring out who was at fault can be based upon your preserved recollection. What is written down often becomes “fact”; memories fade and unrecorded facts are lost with the passage of time. Write down the names addresses and telephone numbers of witnesses to the accident. But, don’t forget to write down contact information for witnesses to the injuries you are suffering from. If you missed time from work and have called and reported the accident, document who you reported the accident to at work. Also, write down all of the doctors or paramedics you saw right after the accident. You will need to get their reports to document your claim.
Evidence
If you are able take pictures of where the accident happened. Was anything missing that should have been there? Looking at the scene right now you may miss something you spot down the road. Are there marks on anyone? Do remember what shoes you were wearing? Pictures are great for answering questions.Take pictures of damage to vehicles or other stationary objects. A picture of a seriously wrecked car is the sort of evidence you need to explain why you have broken bones or serious injuries to ligaments tendons and muscles. Without pictures, you are left with complaints of pain and it is easy to disbelieve someone complaining about how much they hurt.
Notify The Right People & Note It
Who was notified and when? Did you report this to the police? If not, why not? Did you notify your insurance company? Did you notify your employer that you are going to miss time from work because of an accident. Even if you were not at fault you need to report the accident to your insurance company. In your note taking, make sure you specify who you contacted, when you contacted them, and how. This can also be another line of defense in your claim, so that you can show that you followed the correct steps in follow-up with your accident.
These are just a few things to keep in mind if possible when an accident occurs. Talking to a personal injury lawyer is the best thing you can do if you are in need of help, but knowing some things to do to help your case is always a bonus.