View more from News & Articles or Primerus Weekly

A serious car accident can be a traumatic, overwhelming experience. However, knowing what to do after a serious car accident can help you protect your physical health and financial well-being.

Step 1: Seek Medical Attention

Whether you are so severely injured that you can barely move or you feel fine, you should always seek medical attention as soon as possible after a car accident.

There are a few reasons for this. Not every injury shows up right away. Some injuries, including brain and spinal trauma, can take days or even weeks to appear. All the while, the injury is quietly becoming more severe, making it more difficult to treat once you identify it. By finding and treating an injury before it gets worse, you can save yourself a lot of pain in the future.

You also need a medical evaluation in case you decide to file an insurance claim. If days or weeks pass between the accident and a doctor notating your injuries, the other driver and her lawyer can argue that something else (i.e., not the crash), caused your injuries. Protect yourself by having a medical professional document your injuries right away.

Continue your medical care throughout the duration of your claim. If you skip appointments or disobey your doctor’s orders, the insurer will likely use this to claim you are uninjured or that you are contributing to your injuries.

Step 2: Contact Your Insurance Company

Depending on the circumstances of the accident, your compensation might come from your insurance company, the other driver’s insurance, or a combination of both.

Anyone who has filed an insurance claim knows the process takes time. Get the ball rolling as soon as possible by contacting your insurance company. That way it can get to work investigating the crash, contacting the other insurance company if necessary, and you can receive payment faster.

Note: Do not give the insurer any more information than is necessary. Tell the insurer the type of accident, where and when it occurred, and the other driver’s insurance information.

If your insurer asks if you are injured, explain that you are waiting for your examination results to come back and that you will explain everything at a later date. Do not apologize for the accident and do not say that you are okay. Insurers can use this as an admission of fault or a statement that you are uninjured. If the insurer requests a recorded statement, decline and direct any questions to your lawyer.

Step 3: Run Your Case by a Personal Injury Lawyer

Even if you were partly at-fault in the accident, you might be able to pursue a claim for damages. In fact, there might be a responsible party you have not even thought of, such as the manufacturer of a vehicle part that malfunctioned before the crash.

It is worth your time to have an experienced car accident lawyer analyze the details of your crash and identify all parties who might share liability. From there, he can advise you of your rights and whether you have a case worth pursuing. If you decide to seek damages, your lawyer can gather evidence and build a strong case on your behalf.

What’s more, most personal injury lawyers do not collect a fee until and unless their clients win a settlement. This means there is no risk on your part to contact a personal injury lawyer.

Not sure if you have a case? Get a free case evaluation today!