Getting into a car accident is among the more stressful things that can happen in your life. There are so many things you need to do, and you often have to do them with an injury. If you’ve been in a car accident, here is what you need to do next.
Get Medical Attention
After a car accident, you need to get checked by a doctor. Even if you don’t think you have any life-threatening injuries, you should still be examined. Often, injuries don’t become apparent until later on, when the adrenaline has worn off. By getting medical attention early, you can find and treat those injuries before they become severe. Medical attention also begins a paper trail you can use while negotiating with insurance companies since it shows you got examined and need your insurance to pay for coverage.
Contact Your Insurance
Once you’re sure you’re out of danger, you should call your insurance company to file a claim. Depending on what happened in the accident, your medical and repair bills may be covered by your insurance or another party’s insurance. Either way, you need to get in touch with your insurance company quickly. Repairs can get expensive, especially when you have to get pieces through a retailer. A trim piece that costs $5 to make can go for a 5,000% premium at a retail counter. It can be cheaper to go through online stores. However, there are no guarantees that you can afford the necessary repairs on your own. When you file a claim with your insurance, you begin the process of getting your bills covered.
Find a Mechanic
Once your insurance company has looked at your car and gotten a quote for the damage, your next step is to go to a mechanic. There are likely to be many mechanics in your community. In fact, 75% of aftermarket repairs are done at a garage, while 25% are done at a dealership. Your insurance company might have certain garages they’d prefer you work with. If they don’t, you should go to a garage that you trust. This will get your car back on the road quickly.
Address Discrepancies
Sometimes, the insurance and the garage might disagree on how much the repairs to your car will cost. If this happens, don’t panic. You won’t be paying off the bills for the rest of your life. Instead, bring the garage’s quote to your insurance company. There could be a legitimate reason for the difference, such as the new damage that the garage noticed. The insurance and the garage will negotiate on this. Don’t act hastily or immediately bring your car to a new garage. You’ll likely need to pay for towing. The market size of the automobile towing industry is expected to increase by 11% in 2021. Towing can be expensive. In this situation, it is also likely unnecessary.
Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer
If you were injured in the accident and it wasn’t your fault, you’re probably entitled to money that will cover your medical bills and any missed wages that came as a result of the accident. If this happens to you, you’ll want to hire a lawyer to represent you. Getting compensation can be a difficult process and other parties may try to fight your claim. A lawyer has the experience needed to negotiate on your behalf. They can make sure that the insurance companies take your claim seriously and get you your money in a timely manner.
The time after a car accident is a stressful part of your life. If you follow these steps, you’ll be able to take care of the most important tasks.
