What should I do if I was involved in a car accident?
In any car accident, the most important first step is to seek medical attention. Even severe injuries often seem minor, or do not manifest themselves for hours, or days, after the accident. Only a trained medical professional can properly, and promptly, assess and treat physical injuries. The harm you suffer can often increase – sometimes irreversibly so – when medical attention is delayed.
The police should also be contacted immediately. Not only will this provide an official record of the accident, but the police will be able to conduct an immediate investigation of the scene – something that may come in handy down the road, when claims are being settled or litigated. A police officer will take statements from witnesses, analyze and document traffic and road conditions, assess the traveling speed of the vehicles, and depending on the circumstances of the accident, test the other driver for alcohol or drug use. All of this may be invaluable evidence in a subsequent civil case.
While awaiting the police to arrive, it’s a good idea – assuming that you’re physically able to and no other injured passengers or drivers need your assistance – to obtain the following information:
- the names, addresses, and driver’s license numbers of all other drivers involved in the accident;
- the names, addresses, and phone numbers of any witnesses;
- insurance information (company names, policy numbers, vehicle registration numbers) for the other vehicles involved in the incident.
If possible, also try to note the weather and traffic conditions, and whether there might have been anything wrong with any of the vehicles involved in the incident (for example, mechanical trouble mentioned by a driver after the accident). Take note, too, whether any of the other drivers were driving in an employment-related capacity (for example, driving a company car on official business). In such cases, their employer may be liable for your injuries. If you have a camera (even if it’s just a low-resolution cell phone camera), snap photos of the scene. These, too, may come in handy later.
When should I notify my insurance company about the accident?
Your insurance company should be alerted promptly, once you’ve sought medical attention for yourself and notified the police. Insurance policies typically require this, and ignoring – or delaying too long on – their reporting rules may cost you coverage. But keep in mind that it is always in the insurance company’s best interest to resolve accident claims quickly and cheaply. They may offer you a settlement that is far less than warranted – or they may say you are not covered and deny your claim outright. That’s why it is essential to speak with an experienced auto accident attorney before signing any insurance documents or discussing the accident in detail with anyone from the insurance company. But do not delay, as insurance companies can often deny coverage when information is not shared with them in a timely manner.
What if the other driver’s insurance company wants to speak with me?
Under no circumstances should you ever speak to another driver’s insurance company without first consulting an attorney. Remember, it is in the other side’s interest, too, to resolve cases quickly and cheaply, and insurance companies have a lot more experience with these cases than the average driver. Their representatives and adjusters will know exactly what to ask you in order to stack the deck in their favor – and against you. Be polite but firm: You are unable to discuss the matter at this time. Then consult with your own counsel.
What damages may I recover in an automobile accident case?
Injured drivers, passengers, and pedestrians (remember, many victims of car accidents weren’t even riding in a car) may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, property damages resulting from the incident, and pain and suffering. Victims who are permanently disabled may be able to recover for lost future earnings as well as their long-term medical care.
What if the other driver had no insurance – can I still recover?
When the other driver has no insurance, you may still be able to recover compensation for your harm from your own insurance company, which, depending on your policy, may have an obligation to pay benefits in a “no-insurance” case. But recovery here can be particularly difficult, and you can be assured that your insurance company will make every attempt to deny, delay, or underpay your claim. Experienced legal counsel is essential in these cases.
Why is it important to work with a lawyer experienced in auto accident cases?
Two words: insurance companies. It is in their best interest to pay as little as possible on auto accident claims, and they have the resources, expertise, and legal talent to beat back – or at least scale back – the rightful recovery of injured drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. Fortunately, a lawyer who is experienced in automobile accident cases knows all the tactics, ploys, and delays an insurance company can muster – and how to overcome them. At Mary Alexander & Associates, our lawyers have been taking on insurance companies for over a quarter of a century. And time and again, we beat them at their own game, using our own expertise and drive to get our clients the compensation, and the answers, they deserve.
How do I pay for your services?
It’s simple: Unless we recover a financial award or settlement, you don’t pay us anything. That’s because we handle automobile accident cases on a contingent-fee basis. In short, the risk is all ours: You pay us only if we’re successful. Expenses work the same way. We pay all the costs of the litigation and are reimbursed only if we obtain a settlement or jury award. Think of it this way: It may be your lawsuit, but it’s always our risk. That's why you can be assured that if we take your case, it’s because we fully intend to win it.
