Life happens and so do accidents. Auto accidents are no exception and usually they are more inconvenient than anything else. But, in today’s litigious society, a fender bender can grow into a Frankenstein’s monster just as quickly as a major collision.
So, what’s the smart way to handle auto accident claims so they don’t come back to haunt you?
Regardless of who was at-fault, call the police and file a formal car accident claim report. Even if the investigating officer says the damage is minor, get a report filled out. The insurance companies for all parties will want to see a police report. This is the first step in documenting evidence for possible future legal action.
If you can, get the names, addresses and phone numbers of any witnesses. Don’t rely on the police officer to get this information. There are different car insurance claim forms the police can use depending on his or her estimation of the significance of the damages and/or injuries. The ‘short’ form does not require as much detailed information as the ‘long’ form. Therefore, you may need to do some ‘police work’ on your own when it comes to gathering information.
Also, try to take pictures of your car’s damage as well as the other person’s car. Most cell phones have a built-in camera so photos should be fairly easy to take.
Call your insurance company as soon as possible and file an accident compensation claim. Regardless of whether you were injured or the other party was injured, your insurance company needs to begin processing car accident insurance claim. Even if the vehicles sustained minor damage, the damages should be assessed by an appraiser and documented. Contact the other person’s insurance company, too. You would be surprised by how many accidents are not reported by the at-fault parties. If you contact the other person’s insurance company and discover that a auto accident insurance claim has not been filed, you can ask the insurance company to start a claim.
Follow up with your primary doctor as soon as you can. As slight as the impact might have been, you should still see a physician (the same day if possible) and explain how the accident happened. Sometimes, the physical symptoms are latent and don’t appear until the following day or days later. But, if your doctor examined you on the day of the accident, it may be easier to relate subsequent injuries to the accident.
Review your insurance policy carefully. Be informed of your different coverages (i.e., rental insurance, towing, deductibles) and what your policy limits are. If the accident was clearly not your fault, ask your car insurance claims adjuster what responsibilities the at-fault party has to you – your deductible may be waived or you may not be responsible for paying for a rental car.
Make sure you save all receipts and bills for any expenses incurred relating to the accident. This includes medical expenses, including prescriptions or therapy products purchased. Also, keep track of any time lost from work due to accident-related medical reasons. Keep a mileage log to and from your medical appointments. You may be compensated for this missed time and for mileage.
Most likely, your insurance company (and probably the other party’s insurance company) will ask you to make a statement, usually over the telephone. Remember to keep your answers concise and direct to the question – don’t give out too much information. Answer truthfully and to the best of your knowledge. If you’re not sure of an answer or don’t understand the question, let the interviewer know. Tell him or her you’re not sure or ask to restate the question.
Lastly, never sign any release, including property damage, until you’re certain you know what you are releasing in the way of liability or recovering for future personal damages.