No one wakes up in the morning and expects to get into a serious, even life-altering accident. Unfortunately, however, these incidents do happen and often inflict serious injuries on innocent victims. While they can cause confusion and panic, there are things every accident victim can do to increase their chances of relief should they decide later pursue legal action.
At M. Austin Jackson Attorney at Law, we have helped navigate thousands of injury cases and know what it takes to successfully secure results for our clients. Below, we’ve compiled a step-by-step timeline every accident victim should consider once they’ve been hurt. For more information on what you can do to pursue an injury claim, call our Augusta personal injury attorneys at (706) 724-2661 today.
STEP ONE: ATTEND TO INJURIES AT THE SCENE
If you or a loved one has been hurt in an accident or a traffic collision, the first thing to do is call 911. If there are no apparent injuries immediately following a traffic accident, it’s still necessary to call the police.
When police arrive, they will ask for an account of what happened. Be as clear as you can, but be careful not to overstate whether you have been hurt or not. Some injuries do not become apparent to victims until hours or even days after the incident.
STEP TWO: GATHER EVIDENCE AT THE SCENE
If you are able, gather information at the scene of the accident. When the accident was a car crash, this means getting the other driver’s information, but also pictures of vehicle damage, skid marks, road conditions, traffic signs, or anything else that can help substantiate what happened.
Modern smartphones have made it easy for us to gather information and photos wherever we are. Even if your accident wasn’t traffic-related, you should try to document what you can and even get information from witnesses who may have seen what happened.
STEP THREE: SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION
Depending on the seriousness of your injury, you may have received medical attention immediately following your accident or you may have had to schedule a check-up sometime later. Whichever the case, it is advised that you keep all the documentation you can from this treatment. Keep a log of when these visits happened and begin to create a timeline of your treatment.
STEP FOUR: CONTACT YOUR AUTO INSURANCE PROVIDER
If you’ve been in car accident, it’s critical that you inform your auto insurance provider that there’s been an accident and it resulted in property damages and injury. You will likely have several conversations with a representative and a claims adjuster may be dispatched to look into your accident. Keep a log of these phone calls and interviews and record any other critical information the provider gives you about your claim.
STEP FIVE: REACH OUT TO AN INJURY ATTORNEY
After your initial call with your insurance provider, it may be time to contact an attorney. Remember: Your insurance provider will be looking for ways not to pay your coverage and negotiating with them may be necessary.
In rare cases, you may have to take an insurance provider—or the individual responsible for the accident—to court. Your choice in legal representation should have a successful track record when it comes to navigating cases like yours and the resources and experience to litigate your claim, if necessary.
ARE YOU READY TO SPEAK WITH AN ATTORNEY ABOUT YOUR POTENTIAL INJURY CLAIM? M. AUSTIN JACKSON IS READY TO HEAR FROM YOU. REQUEST A FREE CASE EVALUATION TODAY.