Car accidents are very common. Unfortunately, if you’re in a car accident, there is a chance you could be injured. A car accident injury can either be minor or severe, but any can have an impact on your life. Here are some things you need to do if you are injured in a car accident.
Get Medical Attention
If you’re injured or think you might be injured, you need to get medical attention as soon as possible. Not only does this get you the care you need, but it will also make it less likely that insurance companies will fight not to pay your medical bills. Sometimes, a medical insurance provider might try to argue that, since you didn’t seek medical attention immediately, you weren’t actually injured. Or that your injuries occurred after the accident took place. Plus, some injuries aren’t obvious right away, so if you wait to get them checked, they might get worse. In the United States, 3 million people are injured in car accidents each year. All of them need medical care.
Follow the Doctor’s Orders
While your doctor will be able to do the initial care and diagnosis, your recovery will mostly be up to you. Make sure that you follow your doctor’s instructions in the aftermath of your accident. While it could have a temporary negative impact on your life, it’ll make it much easier to recover and get back to your routine. Do any exercises or visit any specialists they send you to. That way, your insurance company will take the medical expenses seriously and know that they are all connected. This will make it less likely for them to refuse payment as you recover.
Call the Police
If you’re injured in a car accident, it is very important that you call the police. This is true even if nothing illegal has occurred. If you’re able to do so, pull over to the side of the road with any other parties. That way, you can park safely. Cars spend 95% of their time parked and, if you’re on the side of the road, you’re less likely to get hit by another car coming by. The police can write up an incident report and help direct traffic around the scene of the accident. You’ll also likely need that incident report if you’re filing insurance claims. Even if you think the accident was small, always call the police, especially if you’ve been injured.
Document Everything
It can be hard to remember everything that happens during an accident. This is even more true if you’ve been injured. Do your best to document everything. Get police reports and take pictures of the damage, as well as your injuries. Not only will insurance need that information, but if someone tries to claim the accident was your fault when it wasn’t, you’ll have evidence to back up your accurate description of what happened. As long as you document everything and keep the evidence somewhere where you can easily access it, you’ll be able to avoid any serious problems later.
Get a Lawyer
Car accidents can be expensive. First, your medical bills might pile up depending on what treatment you need. Then, you need to consider the cost of car repairs. The average total repair cost for a vehicle in the United States comes to $305.55. This includes $202.22 for parts and $103.27 for labor. If your claims don’t go through, you might have to pay out of pocket. A lawyer will help you navigate all of the insurance and charges after your accident. Then you won’t need to worry about further damage to your financial life.
Car accident injuries need to be taken seriously. Follow these steps after yours in order to help the aftermath go smoothly.
