Six Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Auto Accident Claim

An auto accident is never something you want to be involved in, but when it happens you should be prepared in case you need to file a claim. Within this guide, you’ll find actionable tips from the scene of the accident to what you should do after you leave the area to ensure you get the most out of your claim.

What to Do at the Scene

Remain calm

Car accidents can be chaotic, but you should do your best to remain calm. Check on others involved in the accident to avoid any further repercussions from the other drivers, as they may file a suit against you if the wreck is your fault (even though it is not your responsibility to do so).

Never argue or fight other drivers that are involved

Fighting with anyone involved in the accident, even if it’s their fault, is never a good idea. If you get on someone’s bad side, they may file a claim against you or avoid cooperating with your insurance to resolve your claim.

Get accurate contact and insurance information from everyone involved

You should always get accurate contact and insurance information from every person involved. If you feel like someone is lying to you, ask to see some form of identification or wait until law enforcement arrives to ensure you get the correct documentation needed to file a claim.

Here’s the information you’ll need to get from the drivers involved in your accident:

1. Full name
2. Driver’s license number
3. Vehicle make and model
4. License plate numbers
5. The car insurance companies from all drivers involved in the accident
6. Auto Insurance policy number(s) from everyone involved

What to Do After an Accident

Go to the hospital if you believe you are injured

If you believe you’re injured, you should seek medical care after the accident. You can still file a personal injury claim without medical records, but you will often be given a lesser value.

Visiting a doctor and sending over records of medical bills right after an accident will help you make a better case that results in a higher-value repayment. Different types of injuries and their severity are assigned values by each insurance company, so having a doctor’s diagnosis of any injury you receive is important for insurance verification processes.

When you go in for a check-up after an accident, you should ask a doctor to determine if there were any accident-related injuries. Even if you have not broken a bone or hurt yourself severely, there are other things, such as headaches, anxiety, and muscle spasms, that could be relevant to your claim.

Keep all of your medical bills and expenses related to accident-related injuries

If you are injured severely and require several medical visits to doctors or specialists, be sure to keep all of your medical records and bills. If you are filing a claim against another driver’s insurance, they will want any and all documentation regarding your injuries so it is important that you keep those documents at the ready to prove your case.

If you incur any expenses due to the accident, like car damage repair or missed days of work, you should keep track of those as well and present them as part of your claim. Be sure to have your doctor or your boss send in excuses for any workdays missed, as your word alone will not be considered by most insurance companies.

Hire an attorney to help you navigate the auto accident claim process

Walking through an auto accident claim by yourself can be daunting, especially if you are injured. Hiring a personal injury law firm with experience in auto accidents can make dealing with insurance adjusters easier and more beneficial for you.

Many times, people accept the first settlement offered by an insurance company because they want to leave the past behind them and move on. An attorney can help you understand if the settlement offered to you will cover your expenses or let you know that you should ask for more money to avoid paying out of pocket for medical bills or vehicle damage.

Final takeaways

There are many things to consider when filing an auto accident claim, and if you’ve never filed one before you may not understand how it works. Your insurance company and any insurance adjuster for the other drivers involved will not have your best interests in mind, so it’s best to keep most details to yourself until you have documentation of all medical bills and expenses that can help you solidify your case.

If you’re ever in doubt, be sure to talk to an attorney to see how you can get the most of your auto accident claim.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes.