It is important to remember certain protocol when involved in a car accident. If you have suffered injuries or have substantial damage to your vehicle, you may be entitled to claim losses against the third party to cover medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and other damages. However, to be successful, you need to follow some simple rules to collect that appropriate information and procedures.
If you are in a serious car accident, it is important to call the police and file an accident report. Some states even require you to contact the Department of Motor Vehicles to report your accident. It is just as important to contact your insurance company in a timely manner, especially if the third party involved is under-insured or even uninsured. Otherwise, you may lose the ability to claim.
On the scene of the accident never accept responsibility. This can be resolved later when you have discussed the accident with your lawyer or insurance company. If the accident is serious, or there is any doubt or disagreement involved, then call the police. Try to collect personal details of several witnesses. If the police are not involved, ensure that you have verified the identity of the other parties; copy down their ID number, and details of their driving license, even make notes of their physical description if necessary, as well as the registration number of their vehicles, make and model number and other descriptive details.
For more complicated cases, such as if you are a passenger in a vehicle and are injured or if someone dies in an accident, you will be required to submit a full assessment of your insurance. In such cases, it makes sense to contact a lawyer and not rely on your insurance company, whose job it is to pay the least amount to policyholders or victims. Proper representation can insure that you will have the best chance to make a claim covering personal loss, medical costs, lost wages or simply damages.