A car accident can be a minor fender bender, or a serious collision resulting in traumatic injuries. One thing is for certain, though – automobile crashes are a fact of life. There are over ten million car accidents each year in the United States, and more than two million people are injured as a result. With chances like this, it pays to know what to do to protect yourself and your future if you are injured in an accident in Phoenix:
- Your health is paramount. The first and foremost item on everyone’s list should be to take care of your health. That means going to the emergency room, if necessary. It also means following up with your physician, and undergoing appropriate treatment, as you would with any other injury or illness. Listen to your doctors. They are the experts.
- Coverage for medical bills. Medical treatment is expensive. You may have existing coverage through your employer, your spouse’s employer, or from other sources. In addition, you may be covered for your injuries through your own insurance. If you speak to your insurance agent about the issue, don’t discuss settlement of your potential case.
- Coverage for lost wages or future damages. Wages lost as a result of the accident, in the past, present and future, are recoverable from the at-fault driver. You should carefully document time spent at appointments where you were not earning money, or time off work altogether. Our experts will evaluate future losses.
- Coverage for pain and suffering. You are entitled to compensation for the pain you experience during and after an accident. Though money can never fully make you whole, the law provides that you are entitled to recover based on your losses, whether they be specific or general damages.
- Gather information and report. If you are able to do so, get the name and insurance information of the other driver(s), and report the accident not only to your insurance company, but to the carrier(s) for the other cars involved. Do NOT make a statement about liability or injuries prior to contacting an attorney. Also, if permitted by circumstances, take pictures of the accident.
- Keep track of the details. During every step of the process, beginning immediately after the accident, keep track of and document the details, including your medical treatment.
- Hire a Phoenix personal injury attorney. The earlier you retain an attorney for your case, the sooner work can start on recovering the losses you’ve sustained as a result of the accident. Discussing your case with your insurance company or with a claims adjuster for another insurer can often lead to problems, including having your statements be used against you later in the process. You don’t have to talk to them about your case, and experience shows that you should leave those discussions to your lawyer.
Don’t worry if you think you might be responsible, in whole or in part, for causing the accident. Your attorney can talk to you about this after he or she reviews the facts.
Medical bills, lost wages, permanent injuries, pain and suffering, and any other losses you sustain in the accident can be recovered, and your best chance is to find the right lawyer for your case.
Law Offices of David A. Black
40 North Central Avenue #1850
Phoenix, AZ 85004
(480) 280-8028
