Auto Accidents Frequently Asked Questions: Things You Need to Know
If you've already left the accident scene and dealt with the immediate aftermath, the first thing you should do is seek medical treatment. Even minor collisions might result in whiplash and other serious damage. Failure to document any injuries sustained in an accident makes proving your damages and compensation considerably more difficult.
The same logic applies to any property damage to your car or other personal belongings that may have been harmed in the collision. Make a point of getting repairs and/or replacement estimates for any property that was damaged in the collision so that the losses may be documented. If you engage a personal injury lawyer, he or she will almost certainly assist you with the property damage part of your claim.
While you should notify your insurance company as soon as possible after an accident, it is always a good idea to consult with an attorney first since the insurer may make an early settlement that is not in your best interests. Under no circumstances should you talk with another driver's insurer or make any statements that might be used against you.
Who may I sue for damages caused by a car accident?
Who can be the subject of a lawsuit, like the question of how much a lawsuit is worth, is determined by the specifics of your case. In an automobile accident lawsuit, the apparent defendant is the driver of the at-fault vehicle, but depending on the circumstances, a variety of additional persons may be held responsible for damages. For example, if your automobile was recently fixed wrongly and you were involved in a car accident, the repair expert may be held liable. Similarly, if you were hit by a drunk driver who was sold beverages while being clearly inebriated at a local institution, the waiter or business might be held liable. Another conceivable defendant is a government agency that planned a risky junction or piece of road. In other words, every party who contributed to the accident by acting negligently or recklessly may face legal action.
How long do I have to file a lawsuit?
There is a deadline for filing each sort of litigation and every state is different, so you should contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible to learn more about your options.
What is the value of my claim?
The issue of how much compensation an automobile accident victim is entitled to be one of the most commonly asked, as well as one of the most difficult to answer. A better approach to answer this issue is to describe what a victim could be entitled to, so you can talk to an attorney about it. In most cases, car accident victims are entitled to compensation for:
Medical bills and hospital expenditures, as well as future medical expenses
Rehabilitations
Wages and earning ability have been lost.
Damage to property
Suffering and pain
It is critical to preserve meticulous records of the car accident. All out-of-pocket expenses, such as transportation, medical treatments, physical therapy, and medicine, as well as lost work time and wages, pain and suffering, limitations incurred as a result of the accident, and all out-of-pocket expenses, such as transportation, medical treatments, physical therapy, and medicine, should be meticulously documented.