Nobody wants to be involved in a car crash, but it’s something we should all be prepared for. We’re often confused by the many steps to take in the preparation and aftermath of an accident, the workings of an insurance company, and the need for an attorney. This is why knowing the steps to take in advance is so important, especially if you need to call the Top personal injury lawyer in Phoenix. You can take steps to defend yourself and minimize the damage, as well as keep evidence for use later in a potential claim. Good preparation is important to ensure a positive outcome.
Immediate Steps to Take After a Car Accident
Ensure Safety First
Accidents happen all the time, and your health and safety are more important than any property damage. The safety of your vehicle and all of the people involved, yourself included, is the number one priority.
Key steps include:
– If you can, move your vehicle to a safe location.
– Turn on your hazard lights to alert other vehicles on the road to your presence.
– Make sure to check the people and any other vehicles involved for injuries.
– If there are any injuries to any vehicle occupants, call for emergency medical assistance.
Document Everything at the Scene
Evidence is crucial when submitting a personal injury claim. Good, organized and accurate documentation will work to your benefit every step of the way.-
-Important actions:
– Look for affected parties to be responsive so that you can gather their insurance and driver information easily.
– Note down and photograph each vehicle.
– Make sure to get the contact information for all the witnesses you can.
– Record the time, place, and details of the accident, as much as you can.
– Finally, take photos of the vehicle, as well as the road and weather conditions, and any injuries you sustained.
Seek Medical Attention
In the event of any sort of accident, and even if you are pretty sure your injuries are fine, you should still be checked on by a medical professional.
There are a few reasons, but the most important include:
– Injuries are sometimes hidden and will present themselves days or even a week later.
– Getting checked should be a priority, especially if you are going to pursue an injury claim, as it is a great legal document.
– If there is pain, a loss of any normal movement, or just difficulty moving, that should definitely get documented.
How Weather Conditions Affect Car Accidents
Common Weather-Related Risks
Underestimating the weather is always a bad idea for any road trip because of the impact it has on accident statistics. Out of all the conditions for driving, the most important are:
– Rain: It reduces traction caused by the tires. It also extends the distance for braking which is a problem for so many people.
– Fog: It slows down all of the drivers as their distance to the driver in front of them increases. It also means that, if the front driver does a braking maneuver, the back driver will most definitely collide with the front driver.
– Snow and Ice: It causes all of the snow and ice to skid which makes it a problem for larger drivers as they can easily lose control. It is super duper super dangerous.
– High Winds: It pushes vehicles into different directions (like off the road or into a brake zone for fast drivers), and it makes it very dangerous to change lanes for the driver.
How Weather Affects Your Claim:
– Adjusters might say that the conditions—and NOT the at-fault driver—were the cause of the accident.
– Drivers still legally have to slow down and maintain control of the vehicle, no matter the weather conditions.
– These situations make witness accounts and police reports that much more critical.
What to Know About Injury Claims and Insurance Companies
Insurance Companies Are Your Enemy
Insurance adjusters might come off as nice and accommodating, but at the end of the day, they only care about reducing the amount of money they have to pay out.
Common Insurance Adjuster Tactics:
– Taking recorded statements that they later use against you.
– Giving you low settlement offers that happen quickly, before you even have a chance to understand the extent of your injuries.
– Dragging the claim out so that they can pressure you into taking a lesser amount.
– Fighting against the amount of money they owe you by disputing your medical bills and reducing the amount of liability they owe you.
How to Protect Yourself
To make sure you don’t get taken advantage of, here are the things you can and should do:
Some good self-protecting tips are:
– Do NOT take the very first settlement offer you are given.
– Do NOT give a recorded statement without reviewing it with a lawyer first.
– Keep a very accurate account of all treatments that you received to help with your injuries.
– Do NOT give a recorded statement without reviewing it with a lawyer first.
– Keep a very accurate account of all treatments that you received to help with your injuries.
– Keep copies of all correspondence you have with the insurance company.
– Consistency is key when it comes to your injuries. Make sure you are always using the same language when you describe your injuries and any pain you are feeling.
Why are Local Personal Injury Lawyers Important?
Local Knowledge is Unmatched
There is quite a bit of variance in personal injury lawyers. A local attorney is going to provide benefits that a far away company or call center is not gonna be able to.
Benefits of local representation
– Understanding of local traffic law and accident patterns.
– Knowledge of local courts and their respective judges plus what the local insurance companies do.
– Collecting evidence and being at the scene of the accident is much easier.
– Ability to meet in person without much trouble.
Legal Support
The personal injury claims process can be very stressful and time consuming. An attorney is able to help and in turn, make the process easier and provide a higher chance at being compensated for the injury.
A lawyer can help by the following:
– Analyzing the accident and putting together a documentation of the events in order to support the case.
– Putting together a collection of medical expenses, wages, and any loss in order to detail the suffering of the victim.
– Providing representation to advocate for the victim with the insurance company.
– Filing a lawsuit if the insurance company is being unreasonable.
– Providing support through the process in order to prevent any errors that can impact the settlement.
Final Thoughts: Protect Yourself and Your Rights
It can be challenging to navigate a personal injury claim after an accident. However, knowing the steps involved and how to manage them can help you retain a sense of control. Many different factors affect the outcome of a personal injury claim, like the weather, legal requirements, and how the insurance company deals with the claim. That is why it is so important to make informed decisions. Getting in touch with a reputable attorney is a good way to ensure that you do not have to deal with the situation alone. Moving forward and retrieving the compensation you deserve is much easier with sound advice.
