What to Do After a Car Accident
Our Denver car accident attorneys have extensive experience handling injury cases. It doesn’t matter if you have a minor scrape or a major collision, we are here for you.
You’ve just been in a car accident, and you don’t know what to do next. You may be in pain, or simply in shock. Regardless, you know that you’ve just experienced a major occurrence that could have lasting ramifications on your life, and potentially result in long periods of recovery, insurance filings and even legal battles.
If you know the right steps to take in the moments, days and weeks following your accident, you can protect your future and assets from further difficulties.
Should you find yourself involved in a car accident in Colorado, the first few moments after the wreck could be crucial. Even though you are probably more than a little shaken up, try to remember a few necessary steps.
First, assess injuries, including yours, your passengers’ and those of the occupants of the other car. Whiplash car accidents are a common occurrence, and such injuries may not have obvious symptoms immediately, so be on the lookout for any signs of neck trauma. Stiffness and muscle spasms may occur, and dizziness can also result.
If you find that anyone involved in the car accident has been injured, make sure that individual seeks immediate medical attention, both to minimize the impact of the injuries and to get proper documentation for both parties’ insurance companies and car accident attorneys.
Next, report the accident to the proper authorities, including the police and both associated insurance companies. Each of these entities will give you further instructions.
Always be prepared. Print out a post-accident report and keep it in your glove compartment.
Finally – and this step is a fairly new and useful development in the digital age – get photos of the accident scene. If you don’t have a camera or camera phone handy, ask any witnesses if they can help. The more photographic evidence you have of the car accident, the easier it will be to move forward with insurance claims.
Once you have returned home after seeking proper medical care, you’ll begin the process of dealing with your car accident insurance company. While the specifics of dealing with insurance after a car accident may change depending on the insurance companies involved and the scope of the injuries and damages, it is very important that you do not give any formal statements until you have assessed your coverage. Otherwise, you risk inadvertently saying something the insurance company may use to deny your claim.
In cases of severe injury or serious property damage, you should consider initiating contact with a car accident lawyer in Denver first. The more serious the accident, the higher the medical and repair bills will be, and the more likely you are to need legal assistance in getting your financial losses covered.
You’ll also want to take care to maintain complete and accurate records of every conversation, doctor visit and mechanic’s assessment during this time. Start a file on your car accident and keep every receipt, phone message – anything even remotely related to your wreck could end up being useful should you need to hire a lawyer.
Personal injury attorney Mack Babcock instructs Colorado motorists on the legal precedent for how they are expected to respond in the event of a car crash
While the insurance companies involved are required by law to uphold their policies, there is some leeway here, leaving them the option of covering only the bare minimum dictated under your policy. For small fender-bender type accidents this will usually suffice, but if your car is totaled or you sustain a serious, long-term injury, you may have more difficulty pursuing your claim.
If you sustained injuries during your car accident, talk with your doctor about your prognosis. If it appears you may require long-term care such as physical therapy or pain medication, ask that the facts of your injury be put in writing, and make sure that anyone providing you medical care is aware that a car accident claim is involved. This information can help your doctors document your injuries in the most appropriate way.
Finally, if you are seeking a larger amount of compensation or suspect that the insurance company is attempting to pay less than required on your claim, contact Denver car crash lawyer R. Mack Babcock and associates at Babcock Tucker today. We have extensive experience and knowledge of the inner workings of the car accident claims process and can help you proceed with any necessary legal action.
Continue reading these related articles for more information…
- What to Do If You’re in an Out-of-State Car Accident
- 5 Duties Every Driver Has to Act with Reasonable Care
- Collisions with Pedestrians and Bicycles
- What to Do Following a Hit and Run Accident
- Colorado Car Insurance Guide: Everything You Need to Know about State Requirements
**NOTE – this article and all content at Injurylawcolorado.com is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice
