It’s pretty safe to say that if you’ve never been involved in a car accident, your time is coming. It’s also safe to assume that you or someone in your vehicle is likely to be injured and maybe even seriously. Car accidents are a huge cause of pain and suffering on top of potentially staggering medical bills so there are three things you should always do if you’re involved in a car accident.
The first thing you should do is to report the accident to the proper authorities. After the immediate danger is past and the injured are receiving medical treatment, ensuring the accident is thoroughly investigated by a law enforcement agency is critical. Arizona sheriff’s deputies and police officers are trained and competent accident investigators and will document the facts and circumstances surrounding the accident, freezing the facts in time, as it were. A good accident report will be the foundation of any resulting civil litigation and preserves the facts long after memories begin to fade. Never, ever let a driver who has caused a crash involving your vehicle say he’ll take care of the damage and then walk away.
Secondly, continue to document the treatment of any injuries sustained by someone in your car. Write down the dates and times of medical treatment, keep receipts for money spent on these procedures as well as for incidentals such as over-the-counter medications and supplies, lodging associated with medical appointments, and even meal s on the road. Keep a log of every expense attributable to the accident and write it down the day the money is spent.
Last, consider consulting with a personal injury attorney. If you didn’t cause an injury accident you may be entitled to some compensation. Insurance companies and at-fault drivers tend to become uncooperative when looking at big payouts and an attorney is the only one who can turn the tide when an insurance company or reckless driver balk at fulfilling their financial responsibilities. An experienced attorney knows the law and how to enlist the support of the legal system in situations where injured persons are entitled to compensation but are denied it. Representing yourself when confronting a reluctant insurance company or a hostile driver in a civil action is a big mistake.
Our personal injury attorney will navigate the complex legal landscape of your car accident to see you get what you’re entitled to.
Call our Car Accident Law Firm in Phoenix Today!
