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Life after a car accident can never be the same again. Besides struggling with escalating medical bills and lost wages, you may still have to pay for your regular expenses like rent and utilities. 

The good news is that you may be able to recover compensation if the accident that caused your damages resulted from someone else’s negligence. Sadly, the at-fault party’s insurer or lawyer may not be willing to pay what you rightfully deserve and will even use some underhand tactics to deny or lower your claim’s value. 

But worry not, as here are four tips to help you get total compensation after a car accident.

Seek Medical Treatment

Seeking medical attention should be your first step after an accident, whether your injuries are severe or not. Some injuries like whiplash may be visible immediately after a crash, and the only way to identify and treat them early enough is through a medical examination. 

Besides guarding your health, seeking treatment will provide you with the official medical documentation of your injuries. These records come in handy when proving and quantifying the value of your claim. 

Gather Evidence

If you are not severely injured, make sure you collect information that might help strengthen your case at the accident scene. Without adequate evidence, the only compensation you might get is from your medical coverage or your uninsured motorist coverage. 

So, take photos or video footage of the damage to both vehicles, document any physical injuries, get the contact information of any witnesses, and gather details of the other driver. All of these will be helpful when proving your claim or negotiating a settlement with the at-fault party’s insurance company. 

Don’t Rush to Accept a Settlement Offer. 

Insurance companies know you will likely be under intense financial pressure after a car accident. So, they may offer you a quick settlement even before you assess your injuries and damages to avoid paying you total compensation. 

If this happens, you should politely decline their offer until you speak to a car accident attorney. An experienced lawyer will know how to negotiate with the insurance company to ensure you get the most out of your claim. 

What if the Insurance Company Refuses to Pay at All?

When you suffer injuries due to someone else’s negligence, it is not unusual for their insurer to deny liability and refuse to pay at all. When that happens, the right thing to do is to let a skilled car accident lawyer handle your personal injury claim. 

According to Dolman Law Firm’s car accident lawyers, insurance companies often refuse to pay injury claims due to policy exclusions, inadequate evidence and lapsed insurance policy. Having a car accident lawyer on your case can help you determine if the other driver still has a case to answer, enlighten you about your legal options, and work with you to protect your legal rights. 

Report the Accident to the Police

Police will almost always show up at the scene after an accident. Even if they don’t, you should make a personal effort to file a report at the nearest police station, especially if the accident involves substantial property damages, severe injuries, or even death. 

Police reports are essential for various reasons. One, they give a legal description of the car accident by outlining when, where, and what time it occurred. Secondly, police also capture the contact information of witnesses and parties involved in a crash for a more effortless follow-up. 

The police report after an accident is often available for public access, meaning you or your lawyer can easily get it days or even weeks after the crash. 

Carol
Information sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.