Injuries sustained from a car accident are often devastating and can leave you incapacitated for the rest of your life. That is why you must file a claim for damages if you were not liable for the accident. Like all other personal injury cases, you must prove negligence to win your case.
Work with an experienced Atlanta car accident attorney to increase your chances of success. Here are the general steps you are required to follow when filing a car accident injury claim:
Treatment of injuries
Your main concern after any accident should always be to seek immediate medical attention. Even if you feel fine, it is still essential that you go for a further checkup because some injuries do not hurt initially.
Your doctor will advise you whether to resume normal activities and issue a report documenting your injuries. Keep the report because it will be helpful when calculating the value of your settlement.
Initial investigation
If you are not severely injured and can carry out an initial investigation, ensure you do before leaving the scene. It includes taking pictures and witness contact. They will be helpful in the lawsuit. Your photos should show the car’s location, weather conditions, and any debris that may result from the accident.
All the evidence you collect at this stage will be beneficial when filing and proving your claim. Always remember that you have the burden of proof.
Filing a claim
Some insurance companies have set a time limit by which you should inform them of the accident. Therefore, the other step should be notifying and filing a claim with your company. It will also be advantageous because your company may choose to pay for damages and seek compensation from the negligent driver’s insurance company.
Consult an experienced car accident attorney
Sometime after the accident, you will notice that the other insurance company will contact you to reach some form of an agreement.
It is easy to fall into the trap of insurance adjusters. Therefore, the best thing is to have an attorney handle and reply to such negotiations.
If you do not have a legal assistant and you sign the release accepting a lower amount, you have lost your chance of a reasonable settlement. The lawyer will look at the offer and advise you accordingly. Other functions of an attorney include:
- Help with the investigation to gather more helpful evidence
- Build and file an injury claim on your behalf
- Draft and reply to the demand letter made to the insurance company
- Handle the paperwork in case your claim goes to court
Contact Ponton Law
The insurance company will look for strategies to either reduce the amount payable or set them free from paying your claim. Therefore, you need an attorney who has handled such cases and has a proven track record of winning. Our Atlanta car accident attorney was named a superlawyer for 2019. Therefore, you are assured of the best. Schedule an appointment online or call 404-850-9516.