Auto accidents are scary situations that can leave you injured and with extensive property damage. According to the New York State Department of Transportation, the cost of an auto accident will range between $15,000 and $63,000. An auto accident lawyer can help you get the compensation you need from insurance companies if they don't pay out to you. However, there are things you need to do following the accident to increase the likelihood of a successful case.
Seek Medical Attention
The most important thing after an accident is to make sure you're alright. Seek medical attention immediately if you're severely injured. If the accident was severe but you feel alright, you should still seek medical attention. You may not have broken bones or a concussion, but there is plenty of soft tissue damage that can occur that may leave you debilitated for the next several days. A doctor will be able to evaluate you, diagnose any issues, and prescribe a treatment to help you recover.
Collect Evidence
If you're not injured, try to get photographic evidence while you're still on the scene. It can be a difficult and unsafe task depending on where the accident took place, so exercise extreme caution until the authorities arrive. You can easily get a copy of the police report. Also, if you cannot get photographic evidence of the scene, don't worry. You can still take photos of your automobile after the fact to paint a better picture of exactly what happened.
Find a Lawyer
If you don't have an auto accident lawyer on speed dial, get to work finding the right one for your needs. Ask friends and family for referrals. If they were in a similar situation, they may have someone they highly recommend. Even if they weren't in a similar situation, lawyers maintain large networks and if they know an attorney in another field, that lawyer may be able to point you in the right direction. Compare online reviews once you compile a list of about half a dozen candidates. Call their offices to schedule an initial consultation, too. Meeting a lawyer in person will help you get a more accurate sense if they're truly right for you.
Adhere to a Treatment Plan
Whatever treatment plan a doctor gives you, make sure you adhere to it with strict discipline. Meet with your doctor regularly to monitor and record your healing process. Obviously, following a treatment plan is the best way for you to recover. It also creates a paper trail of the ways your injury affected you and your efforts to recover. It's not just any paper trail, either. It's a paper trail that carries the authority of a medical professional and it helps legitimize the compensation you're seeking.
Collect Documents
Collect all the documents and medical bills concerning your treatment. It'll be the foundation of your claim. If you miss work due to your injuries, keep track of the hours and wages you lost. Give the documents to your lawyer so that they can organize and copy them. It always helps to have more than one copy of a vital document. It's also a good idea to document the ways the accident and injury affected you in a journal. “Pain and suffering” is part of the settlement, but it can be hard to quantify. A journal will give you a firsthand account of the pain and suffering your injuries inflicted.
Trust Your Attorney
Auto accident lawyers are experts at negotiating with insurance companies and digging into the evidence of your case to make it stronger. The process may not happen overnight, however. There may be offers from an appealing insurance company, but not everything you deserve. Trust your attorney to do the right thing. You can always voice your concerns about the case to your lawyer, which is encouraged. Proper communication will go a long way in easing your mind and helping you understand what's going on.
Winning an auto accident case may seem difficult, but with the right legal support, you can pull through. Work with your doctor and lawyer, lean on your loved ones, and do your best to document everything. If you're seeking a high-quality auto accident lawyer in Cape Coral, FL, contact Lusk, Drasites & Tolisano, P.A. We'll put our experts to work and get the settlement you deserve.