When you are involved in an accident caused by someone’s negligence, you are eligible to get compensation from the at-fault party. However, getting the compensation you deserve can be challenging since the other party involved can challenge your claim. Fortunately, there are certain steps that you can take if you want to increase the chances of winning your case. Read on to learn how to file a claim after an accident properly.
Report The Accident
You should ensure that you report it to the police to dispatch an officer to the scene. The law enforcement agents will conduct investigations at the crash site, and they can also ask witnesses around for more details. More importantly, the law enforcement agents will write a police report that plays a critical role in determining the damages you deserve.
Seek Legal Advice
It is essential to hire a lawyer who will determine the merits of your case before filing a claim. In some cases, it may be costly to pursue the issue if the accident is not severe. In every state, there is a time limit that you should file a compensation claim. In Texas, the statute of limitations is two years. Therefore, your attorney understands the personal injury case timeline in Texas to protect your legal right to compensation. If you wait too long and the statute of limitations expires, you will not get any settlement. When you schedule a meeting with the lawyer, make sure you ask everything you want to know.
Get Medical Treatment
Whenever you are hurt in an accident, you must seek medical treatment to get any compensation. Without a medical report, the defendant or insurance company involved can easily dispute the claim. Some injuries can manifest later, and this is the reason why you must contact the doctor. It is also important to follow the physician’s instructions if you want to get full compensation.
Document Everything
Before you begin your compensation claim, you must document all the details that can help you support your case. While at the accident scene, take photos of your injuries and the damaged vehicles. You also need to get the other driver’s details like name, contact information, insurance provider, policy number, license plate, and vehicle model. Get details of the police and insurance adjusters that attend the accident scene.
Contact Your Insurance Company
If you are in an auto accident, you should contact your insurance provider to send an adjuster to evaluate the severity of the accident. Make sure you do not accept responsibility in an accident to the adjuster. Insurance companies are in business, and they can use all the information you provide against you. It would help if you also desisted from posting details about the accident on social media to prevent a situation where they can be manipulated by the insurance company.
Negotiate Settlement
In most cases, personal injury cases are solved out of court if the insurance company representing the defendant accepts liability. When you send a letter of demand to the insurance company, they will respond, but it can take months. However, the good news is that you can get peace of mind with a personal injury lawyer by your side. An experienced attorney knows how to negotiate with insurance companies. They also determine if the compensation offered is reasonable. If you cannot settle, your lawyer can file a lawsuit, and the case proceeds to court. Whether you negotiate out of court or proceed to court, you need to collect money after winning your injury case.
Appealing A Denial
When your case is not resolved out of court, it goes to trial. You can appeal a denial in your compensation. It is vital to get experienced legal guidance when you decide to file an appeal. You need to go through all the documents with your lawyer to increase the chances of overturning the earlier verdict. The attorney should play a leading role to ensure that you get an appropriate award. An appeal can only succeed when you gather additional evidence to support your claim.
If you have been involved in an accident caused by other people’s recklessness, you are entitled to seek compensation. However, getting a settlement for the damages after the incident is not usually an easy task. You need strong legal representation, and there are also certain steps you can take to file a claim. With the above tips in mind, you can increase your chances of getting the settlement you deserve after an accident.