How do you ensure that your car accident claim is solid enough to get you the compensation that you deserve? If you’ve been involved in a car accident in New Bedford, MA, you’ll need to file a personal injury claim by hiring a good New Bedford auto accident lawyer.
According to Car Insurance, the average driver in the US is involved in at least four accidents in their lifetime. It, therefore, comes as no surprise that approximately two million people are injured each year on our roadways.
Some of the damages you should expect to be compensated for after you file a car accident claim include:
- Pain and suffering
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Out-of-pocket expenses
You will be required to provide proof that the driver at fault caused the accident as well as proof of the value of your claim. Through our experience working with insurance companies, we know that they do all they can to pay as little as possible. Their goal is mainly to protect their bottom line and to deter clients from pursuing or even making claims.
What Should You Do at the Scene of the Car Accident?
Call 911
Check to see if the other occupants of the car are okay. You should still call 911 even if the car isn’t badly damaged and everyone seems okay. Don’t agree to settle anything with the other driver even if they beg you not to call 911.
Don’t Make Unnecessary Statements
It’s understandable that you would want to comfort the parties involved in the accident but avoid making statements that might be used against you when the other party makes a claim. Statements like “it’s my fault”, “I didn’t see you” or “I’m sorry” imply that you are admitting fault.
Unless you actually saw what happened, keeping quiet is a better option than making statements that can be used against you. If you have to make a statement, ensure that you talk to a car accident lawyer in New Bedford first so that they can advise you about what to say. It’s worth noting that in many states, including Massachusetts, you are entitled to compensation even if you are partially to blame.
Get Medical Treatment
You should always seek medical treatment even if your injuries seem to be minor. No one anticipates getting into an accident and the whole ordeal can be traumatizing. That trauma signals our brain to release adrenaline which acts as the body’s coping mechanism so you might not feel any pain. However, most people realize days later that they suffered severe injuries such as a traumatic brain injury or internal bleeding. The last thing you want is to undermine the value of your car accident claim by refusing to seek immediate medical treatment.
Collect Evidence to Support Your Car Accident Claim
Below is some of the information that you should collect after a car accident in order to support your claim:
- Driver’s insurance information and their ID
- Driver’s address and full name
- Contact information and names of the other occupants of the car
- Videos and photos of the accident scene.
- Witness statements
Start Your Claim Process
Contact Your Insurer
You should immediately notify your insurer about your accident because:
You are obligated to do so under the contract that you signed
Your insurer is obligate to defend you in case you are sued for personal injury by the other driver. The other driver might decide to hire a car accident lawyer in New Bedford to file a claim against you so you need to be prepared.
Your insurer might give you immediate help with your car repairs and/or medical bills
You will be able to avoid fraudulent claims. There have been several cases of people who weren’t even involved in the accident coming out to make a claim.
When Should You Hire a New Bedford Car Accident Lawyer?
It’s very rare for insurance companies to settle your car accident claim for the amount that you stated unless you undervalued it. And even if you undervalued your claim, the insurer will still try to pay you as little as possible. If you are unsure about the value of your claim, you believe your insurer is acting in bad faith or they denied your claim, your best option would be to hire a car accident lawyer in New Bedford.
We can evaluate the value of your claim free of charge. Contact us today at 508-999-0800 to schedule your free initial consultation.
