November 19th, 2008
If you are involved in a car accident you may find yourself dealing with medical issues and worrying about the condition of your car. The natural reaction is, am I injured? Are my passengers hurt? Is the other driver injured? Is my car damaged?
The thought of making a personal injury accident claim probably won’t even cross your mind at this stage, but in reality if you or your passengers have been injured you should begin the personal injury claims process as soon as possible after the accident.
By following the steps below you can make the personal injury claim process as simple as possible.
Step 1: Don’t leave the scene of the accident – Your version of the incident may need to be given to the police for an accident report. Do not, under any circumstances, except in a medical emergency, abandon the scene of the accident (or in the case of a minor accident where there are no injuries and only leave the scene after all the steps below have been followed).
Step 2: If anyone has been injured call the authorities – Inform police and ambulance (if necessary)straight away. The police will examine the scene thoroughly and create an accident report. Note down the names of the officers as you may need this information in the future.
Step 3: Gather information – Obtain the contact details of the other person involved along with details of any witnesses. Take note of registration numbers, make and models of other vehciles and insurance details of any other vehicles involved in the accident.
Step 4: Take photos – Photographs of the accident make fantastic evidence in car accident or personal injury claim. Many mobile phones have cameras, which can capture a suitable image of the accident scene.
Step 5: Contact your insurance company/broker – You have a duty to inform your insurance company if you have an accident and you should do so as soon as possible after it takes place.
Step 6: Contact a solicitor who specialises in car accidents - An experienced legal representative is crucial to ensure you are given unbiased advice and receive the correct settlement, rehabilitation and compensation. A car accident Solicitor will work on your behalf and be trained to deal with the insurance companies, third parties, and know the law.
Step 7: If you are contacted by the other persons insurance company offering to help you with the claim – don’t take it, refer them to your Solicitor. When this happens the insurers have realised they will be faced with making a payout and will try and attempt to get you on side so the claim can be settled for as little money as possible.
