You have heard people say that a split second can be life-altering. This is especially true of road accidents. A momentary lapse of concentration on your part or that of another driver can leave someone dead facing permanent disability. An ice patch, malfunctioning traffic light, or missing road signs can have the same effect.
There is no knowing if a road accident might befall you or a loved one. However, knowing about such incidents, how they can change your life, and how to respond is essential.
Immediate response
A road accident has legal ramifications, and documenting what happened is essential, if possible. At the Felicetti Law Firm, abogados de accidente (accident lawyers) advise that you take photographs of an accident scene and get names and numbers of witnesses for future reference. This might be impossible because you are too injured to manage the task.
However, you could ask bystanders to help and email their photographs afterward. If you witness an accident and see that one party cannot take photos, do so on their behalf.
The police need to perform an inspection and create an accident report after such an incident. They want to interview both drivers, if possible, and might even take witness statements about what happened.
You should not make an adjudication of who was at fault when speaking to authorities. Truthfully explain what happened in detail without bringing your emotions or opinions into your statement. Ensure that the other driver has your contact details and insurance information.
Vehicle insurance claim
A claim from an insurance company is what inevitably follows a road accident. The first part of such a claim is vehicular repairs. The at-fault driver’s insurance is responsible for paying for repairs to both cars. Where there is no clear at-fault driver, each insurance company repairs their policy holder’s vehicle.
If you disagree that an accident was your fault, hire an attorney to help pursue the matter. Your attorney will represent you in correspondence with relevant insurance companies to ensure that the issue is fairly adjudicated and resolved.
Injury claim
Get a medical assessment straight after a car accident as evidence of any injuries you sustained. It is hard to claim damages from an insurance company when you have no proof that you were hurt in the accident.
Insurance companies will argue that you could have sustained the injuries some time between the accident and when you reported to the emergency room. Go back to your doctor for any necessary follow-up appointments to create a record and timeline of any injuries the accident caused.
You can claim any money spent on medical bills related to the accident back from insurance, and having a skilled attorney and proof of everything makes your case even stronger. This medical evidence can also help you claim for lost wages for time off work.
It can even assist in claiming for future medical treatment or your inability to work again due to the injuries you sustained. The family of a loved one who died can claim that person’s potential earnings over their natural lifespan from an insurance company.
The aftermath
An accident can be traumatic and leave you with emotional scars that are hard to recover from. You might become anxious about driving, especially in the same area where the accident occurred. This is quite normal.
However, should it persist, you might need to seek counseling from an expert to help you recover. Seek help from a trusted person, someone from your religious community or a trained mental healthcare professional without delay, as such issues only worsen if you do not deal with them immediately.