So you`ve been in a vehicle accident. That sucks. You`ve exchanged information with any other party involved and informed law enforcement about the accident; now, you`re wondering when you should file a claim. While you can hypothetically file a claim immediately, there are a few things you might want to be aware of before you do. The following will explore some steps you might want to take before you file a claim. The aim is to ensure that you`re as prepared as possible for the claims process and that you have enough information to file the right claim for you, given your situation.
Before diving in, it`s worth mentioning that every auto accident is unique. For the best chance at a positive outcome, speak to a legal professional about your specific accident before making any moves. Things like the laws in your particular state as well as the details of the incident can influence which course of action is right for you.
Know Your Options
Before filing a claim, it is vitally important that you take a moment to learn about all your options. It`s essential that you don`t trust other parties involved in the accident or the insurance company`s breakdown of your options. These are biased parties; what you choose to do can end up costing them more or less money. They have a clear incentive to encourage you to choose a particular course of action that causes them the least discomfort.
In order to learn about all your options, you need to speak to someone not involved in the accident or the compensation that will likely occur after the accident. In almost every case, you`re looking to talk to a personal injury lawyer about what your options are. An attorney with experience in auto accidents and the claims processes can let you know what responses are available to you as well as what you can gain or lose from each one.
The reason this needs to come first is that most courses of action involve you legally forfeiting other responses to the accident. This means that if you sign something with the insurance company, you won`t be able to change your mind and do something else, even if you find out later that another option was better suited to you or if you discover later that your injury is more severe than previously thought.
Most lawyers have interview sessions, often called consultations, where you can explain your situation and hear what they suggest, given the details you`ve shared. Take this time to ask about all your options but also to inquire into a lawyer`s history. If you decide that you want to take any action that requires a lawyer`s help, you`ll be prepared to work with the lawyer you consulted.
Have A Medical Visit
Vehicle accidents are particularly tricky when it comes to injuries. Foremost, accidents are extremely high-stress scenarios that often occur with no warning at all. Things like shock and adrenaline can reduce the pain you`re feeling at the scene of the accident, lulling you into thinking you`re fine when you`re actually seriously injured. Beyond this, many car accident injuries aren`t visible. When your body is traveling really fast and then stops abruptly, your organs can slam into the bones within your body. This can cause organ damage or internal bleeding. Depending on the severity of the bleeding, you might not notice anything for several hours or even a day or two.
It`s possible to be slowly bleeding to death without knowing. Signs of blood loss include being paler than usual, feeling dizzy, having trouble staying conscious, bruising, and being cold. Sometimes, lying down can cause an extremely uncomfortable tensing of your organs and/or a burning sensation; this can mean that the internal bleeding is severe as there is blood in your body where there shouldn`t be blood, and changing the angle of your body causes it to settle at the lowest point, bothering the organs it`s touching.
All of this is to say that it`s vital you seek medical attention even if you feel fine. You don`t want to file an insurance claim until this is done, as the cost of any injuries can impact the claim you want to file.
Understand The Estimated Costs
While not everyone has the cash in their account to handle big surprise expenses, some people do. It`s a good idea to gather a list of estimated costs before you file your claim. You want to know what you`re going to have to pay in terms of car repair or replacement, medical costs, and anything else like lost income from days of missed work.
You`re also going to want to have a sense of how much your insurance is likely to increase on a monthly basis if you file a claim with them. This calculation can be made with the help of an attorney who specializes in auto accidents and the costs associated with them and with the help of your insurance provider. It might also be helpful to speak to a doctor about what long-term expenses they`re expecting you`ll accrue as a result of any injuries you have.
In some cases, you might choose to pay for the damages out of pocket rather than file a claim and increase your insurance rates. This is an option for someone who can afford to pay for the expenses and doesn`t want to increase their monthly bills. Over time, even a small increase in your monthly payment can add up to a lot of money spent.
Of course, this mostly applies to accidents in which you or your vehicle were the only things involved. If another party is part of the accident, you`re going to need to speak to your insurance provider. This is because the other party might ask for an amount you can pay now but then later come back and ask for more and this can quickly get out of hand.
After reading the above, you should have a sense of when you should begin the claims process. Most of these steps involve gathering crucial information that could impact how much you ask for as well as what type of claim you file. Of course, sometimes, you`ll be filing for compensation outside of the insurance company through a legal proceeding.