By: Ryan C. Young
Unfortunately, car accidents happen every single day. You may be the most careful and cautious driver, however, you are sharing the road with others who may be careless, intoxicated, texting or driving dangerously. I became passionate about plaintiff’s rights in vehicle accidents after my wife and I had our car rear-ended by someone who was clearly not paying attention and driving at a very high speed (my car was totaled). Up until that point, we had never experience such a frustrating and taunting task as dealing with the insurance companies. We had always assumed that our insurance company was on our side, right?
First off, remember that the insurance company is not your friend, even if they represent you. Insurance companies make their money by taking your premiums and then limiting the amount they will pay out in return. Your own insurance company will try to ask you as many questions as possible so they can limit your claim. I know from experience that this whole process can be extremely frustrating, particularly when you are in physical and emotional pain which follow any car accident.
After your car accident, you should start documenting all of the doctors you have seen and the medical treatments you have received (including medications). Keep receipts of everything! Also, you should document all of your injuries and try to write down the facts surrounding the accident. Another good idea is to take many pictures of your injuries and the damage to your car. This is true even if you injuries seem inconsequential now. That bruise on knee after your car accident may later prove more serious than it looks.
I would highly recommend hiring an attorney early on in the process. You should hire a civil litigation attorney who feels comfortable handling car accident cases. You should choose an attorney who you feel comfortable working with. Not all attorneys as are the best acting back to their clients or keeping them updated as to the status of their case. If your attorney is not returning your calls or keeping you updated, this will only add more stress during the time you are to be recovering.
I wish you the best of luck and I hope that you recover quickly after your car accident. It is important to pay attention to your physical, emotional and mental well-being after such a devastating event. It is true that a car accident can really cause injuries that are not readily apparent on the surface! Give me a call if you have any questions how I can assist you after your accident.
