How Do I Start The Process Of Filing An Auto Accident Claim?

Although auto accidents can be highly traumatic and upsetting, it is important to take certain steps in order to preserve your rights and ability to pursue a personal injury claim. First, remain at the scene. Call the police, even if your injuries don’t appear to be serious at the time. You may need to have a police report or incident report number in order to file certain types of claims. It is important to tell the police what happened as best as you can. Usually, the investigating officer will take identifying information from the parties together with insurance information. If so, it is advisable to get the police report number and if possible, the name and badge number of the investigating officer.

If you are asked whether you’re injured and you’re not sure, it is best to say that you are not sure rather than saying no. Many injuries aren’t apparent at the time of the accident, but may appear later on.

If you are able to do so safely, take pictures of the vehicles involved in the accident, as well as the accident scene. If you’re not able to do that, see if someone else can take the photos for you. Also, take or have someone take photos of any visible injuries. Be sure that a photo includes your face for identification. You should seek medical attention promptly.

If the police do not respond, it is important that you get the name, address, and telephone number of all persons that were involved in the accident. It would be helpful to ask to see the insurance card for the vehicle that is involved in the accident. If possible, take a photograph of the insurance card as well as a photo of the other driver’s license. You will also want to get the information of any witnesses who were at the scene, including their name, address, and phone number.

You are under a duty to notify your own insurance company of the accident in a reasonably prompt manner. Virtually all auto insurance policies do require full cooperation and prompt reporting of an accident. If you own insurance company requests a recorded statement, it is generally best to defer this to a later time when things have calmed down and after consultation with counsel.

What Is The Danger Of Waiting Too Long To Seek Medical Attention After An Auto Accident?

You should seek medical care promptly, even if you are not sure if you are injured. It is generally best to get examined by a medical professional who can look for injuries that may not be immediately apparent to you and who can alert you to look for important symptoms that may develop over time. It is best that medical treatment be sought within a few days of the accident. A delay in seeking medical care can make it difficult to settle a personal injury claim. Insurance companies, typically, are suspicious of symptoms that are not promptly reported to a doctor or medical professional. A delay in medical care can result in a worsening of your condition that may be more difficult to treat in the future, if it is not addressed in a timely manner.

For more information on Process of Filing An Auto Accident Claim, a free initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (301) 251-0030 today.