1. Seek Prompt Medical Attention
Seek immediate and prompt medical care, because delays in diagnosis and treatment can be costly from both a health standpoint and from the perspective of presenting a claim. Insurance companies don't like "delays in treatment."
Delays or gaps in treatment could hinder the beneficial outcome of your case. A delay or gap in treatment is the period that the claimant goes without seeking medical care after an injury. It is important that you receive immediate care for any injuries that result from the accident to prove your case.
Go to the emergency room, visit a primary care physician, follow up with specialists or see a chiropractor. It is important that you show the need for care was immediate. When there is a long delay before treatment, an insurance company is less likely to acknowledge that the injuries incurred resulted from the accident. A long delay also makes it harder to show the seriousness of the injuries and to prove that you have a right to receive financial compensation for the treatment and medical care that was required.
Insurance companies tend to regard injuries that receive delayed treatment as nonserious and as requiring little to no immediate care. We recommend that you seek immediate and consistent treatment of all injuries incurred in the accident. Keeping a daily diary of your medical needs and care along with documentation from each medical visit will be beneficial to your case.
2. Obtain Full and Complete Information at the Scene of the Accident
Collect as much information at the place of the crash as possible. Take cell phone pictures of the other drivers' license, proof of their insurance and their tag number. Get this information from all involved vehicles. Photograph the property damage on each vehicle as well as any debris on the roadway. Take photos of traffic signs, stop streets or intersections. Always request a police report and obtain the police officer's identification number and the vehicle accident report number at the scene.
Photos are a great way to document the scene of the crash and even injuries that you incurred. Get any witness contact information. Your time at the site of the accident is possibly the only chance that you will have to take down witness' contact info. Take photos of all the witnesses at the scene and their license plates if they are not willing to provide you with their information.
Most people, even when they are at fault, will try to grab information that they can tweak to turn the blame back on you! Make the most of this opportunity, because the information and photos that you obtain could help to win the case. Remember that a photograph is worth a thousand words. Don't worry about taking too many pictures. Worry about taking too few. Document, document, document.
3. Never Speak with the Other Driver(s) Insurance Company
Do not talk with the other driver who may be at fault or with their insurance company. Also, do not give the insurance company a recorded statement from you without the presence of your attorney. Insurance adjusters may appear friendly and compassionate and may express a desire to assist you in receiving prompt medical attention and the quickest compensation. But they are not your friend and are not seeking your best interest.
There are insurance tricks that may be used to devalue your case, and you should never, ever agree to have your statement recorded. They have one job in mind: to pay the lowest amount possible when resolving your claim. Insurance adjusters know all the tricks available to them. Never talk to an insurance adjuster without an attorney present who will help you to avert traps meant to limit your compensation.
4. Consult with and Retain an Attorney ASAP
It is crucial to your case that you consult with and hire an attorney as soon as possible after an accident that involves injury or death. Your personal injury attorney will help you to handle the details of your case. You will need legal representation who will fight to maximize your claim.
Your personal injury lawyer must learn each detail of your case to understand the accident from A to Z. The investigation will take time, dedication and perseverance from both you and the attorney. Share all documentation of physical injuries that you have incurred as well as vehicle damage. Be careful to share as much as you can and choose an attorney that believes you and will step past potential problems with the case to achieve the largest possible compensation. It is important for you to hire a personal lawyer who believes in you and your case.
You need motivated and sympathetic legal representation that will not allow the insurance company's adjuster to brush your case aside. Our personal injury lawyers do not leave money on the table. We, instead, seek to maximize the value of each claim for our clients. We sincerely represent each client and only accept cases that we believe are true. It is important for your attorney to focus on the strengths in your case with a clear intent to maximize your claim.
5. Listen to and Follow Your Lawyer's Advice
Personal injury law is a specific type of law. A private individual can file a lawsuit against others who they accuse of wrongful conduct that contributed to an accident and can request compensation for the injuries that they experienced.
Personal injury attorneys are experienced in advocating for clients and may investigate the accident scene, talk with and question witnesses, coordinate with medical experts and other things needed to fight for the compensation that is due to their clients.
It is necessary for you to listen to and follow your attorney's advice as your case proceeds. Your experienced injury lawyer will know what to implement and what to avoid as they maximize the value of your claim. Secure an attorney as soon as possible and follow all of their instructions to maximize your claim.
Note, a great "primer" on the basics of auto insurance types and how to present a claim in an "at fault" state like California would be, California Auto Insurance Claims Basics
Seek immediate and prompt medical care, because delays in diagnosis and treatment can be costly from both a health standpoint and from the perspective of presenting a claim. Insurance companies don't like "delays in treatment."
Delays or gaps in treatment could hinder the beneficial outcome of your case. A delay or gap in treatment is the period that the claimant goes without seeking medical care after an injury. It is important that you receive immediate care for any injuries that result from the accident to prove your case.
Go to the emergency room, visit a primary care physician, follow up with specialists or see a chiropractor. It is important that you show the need for care was immediate. When there is a long delay before treatment, an insurance company is less likely to acknowledge that the injuries incurred resulted from the accident. A long delay also makes it harder to show the seriousness of the injuries and to prove that you have a right to receive financial compensation for the treatment and medical care that was required.
Insurance companies tend to regard injuries that receive delayed treatment as nonserious and as requiring little to no immediate care. We recommend that you seek immediate and consistent treatment of all injuries incurred in the accident. Keeping a daily diary of your medical needs and care along with documentation from each medical visit will be beneficial to your case.
2. Obtain Full and Complete Information at the Scene of the Accident
Collect as much information at the place of the crash as possible. Take cell phone pictures of the other drivers' license, proof of their insurance and their tag number. Get this information from all involved vehicles. Photograph the property damage on each vehicle as well as any debris on the roadway. Take photos of traffic signs, stop streets or intersections. Always request a police report and obtain the police officer's identification number and the vehicle accident report number at the scene.
Photos are a great way to document the scene of the crash and even injuries that you incurred. Get any witness contact information. Your time at the site of the accident is possibly the only chance that you will have to take down witness' contact info. Take photos of all the witnesses at the scene and their license plates if they are not willing to provide you with their information.
Most people, even when they are at fault, will try to grab information that they can tweak to turn the blame back on you! Make the most of this opportunity, because the information and photos that you obtain could help to win the case. Remember that a photograph is worth a thousand words. Don't worry about taking too many pictures. Worry about taking too few. Document, document, document.
3. Never Speak with the Other Driver(s) Insurance Company
Do not talk with the other driver who may be at fault or with their insurance company. Also, do not give the insurance company a recorded statement from you without the presence of your attorney. Insurance adjusters may appear friendly and compassionate and may express a desire to assist you in receiving prompt medical attention and the quickest compensation. But they are not your friend and are not seeking your best interest.
There are insurance tricks that may be used to devalue your case, and you should never, ever agree to have your statement recorded. They have one job in mind: to pay the lowest amount possible when resolving your claim. Insurance adjusters know all the tricks available to them. Never talk to an insurance adjuster without an attorney present who will help you to avert traps meant to limit your compensation.
4. Consult with and Retain an Attorney ASAP
It is crucial to your case that you consult with and hire an attorney as soon as possible after an accident that involves injury or death. Your personal injury attorney will help you to handle the details of your case. You will need legal representation who will fight to maximize your claim.
Your personal injury lawyer must learn each detail of your case to understand the accident from A to Z. The investigation will take time, dedication and perseverance from both you and the attorney. Share all documentation of physical injuries that you have incurred as well as vehicle damage. Be careful to share as much as you can and choose an attorney that believes you and will step past potential problems with the case to achieve the largest possible compensation. It is important for you to hire a personal lawyer who believes in you and your case.
You need motivated and sympathetic legal representation that will not allow the insurance company's adjuster to brush your case aside. Our personal injury lawyers do not leave money on the table. We, instead, seek to maximize the value of each claim for our clients. We sincerely represent each client and only accept cases that we believe are true. It is important for your attorney to focus on the strengths in your case with a clear intent to maximize your claim.
5. Listen to and Follow Your Lawyer's Advice
Personal injury law is a specific type of law. A private individual can file a lawsuit against others who they accuse of wrongful conduct that contributed to an accident and can request compensation for the injuries that they experienced.
Personal injury attorneys are experienced in advocating for clients and may investigate the accident scene, talk with and question witnesses, coordinate with medical experts and other things needed to fight for the compensation that is due to their clients.
It is necessary for you to listen to and follow your attorney's advice as your case proceeds. Your experienced injury lawyer will know what to implement and what to avoid as they maximize the value of your claim. Secure an attorney as soon as possible and follow all of their instructions to maximize your claim.
Note, a great "primer" on the basics of auto insurance types and how to present a claim in an "at fault" state like California would be, California Auto Insurance Claims Basics
