You’ve just been in a car accident, and it wasn’t your fault. Your car has been damaged, or worse, you have received injuries. Now what do you do? Before we start talking about your car accident compensation claim – first, take a deep breath. Yelling or making accusations at the other driver will not help matters and could actually make them worse. You may say things in anger that could be misconstrued as an admission of guilt.
After taking that deep breath, call the police. The police will take information from both drivers, any witnesses, and determine who was at fault. You will need the other driver’s information to provide to your insurance company, which is the next call you should make. If you have a camera, take pictures of the accident scene. Some factors that you may not realize put the other driver at fault are: tiredness and lack of concentration; failure to react to dangerous situations; vehicle defects like lights, brakes and tires; unsecured loads; and even animals running into the road.
Although you may feel fine, you still need to obtain a medical examination. After you get home from the accident and your adrenaline levels out, you may be surprised to start feeling aches and pains. Remember, if you do not seek medical attention and later find that you were injured, you will not have any proof that the injury was a result of the accident. Therefore, you need to obtain a medical report, and be sure to keep any receipts for medical care or medication.
It’s your legal right to file a claim for damages, so you should not feel guilty for seeking monetary compensation. A personal injury solicitor can help you gather the necessary information, and if the matter is not settled, will represent you in court. Many personal injury solicitors will not charge you a fee. Win or lose, you owe them nothing. Their services are billed to the other driver’s insurance agency, and if you don’t win, they receive nothing. If you do win, the at-fault driver’s insurance company pays their fees. So go ahead, make the call, and get the car accident compensation claim process rolling.