Guest post contributed by Charles Worthering, on behalf of Accident-compensation.co.uk. Charles is a solicitor and works with clients on cases pertaining to accident compensation claims and industrial accidents. In his spare time he enjoys writing about various insurance topics.
Being involved in an accident can leave you physically injured, emotionally traumatized, or suffering significant financial losses. If the accident was not your fault, you are entitled to claim compensation from the person who was responsible. In cases where another driver has caused you to be involved in a car accident, you can claim compensation for physical injuries, psychological trauma, and damage to your vehicle, as well as for lost earnings and expenses that resulted from your vehicle being out of use. To make sure that you’re compensated fully after an accident, there are a few simple rules that you must follow. The following step-by-step guide will help you to avoid common mistakes that people often make after they have been involved in accidents, so that you get the full amount of the compensation that you deserve.
1. Call the police if you are involved in an accident on the road. Filing a car accident report with the police means that all the details are officially recorded, which makes it difficult for the defendant to dispute them in court.
2. Get witnesses’ contact details and ask them to confirm what they saw. Record or write down their statements; eyewitness accounts are essential in settling disputes over compensation claims.
3. Get the other driver’s contact and insurance details – not knowing how to contact the other party can delay your claim.
4. Seek medical advice. Although it can be tempting to brush off people who want to check you over, particularly if you aren’t obviously hurt, doing so could prevent you from claiming compensation for any injuries that are later revealed. Even if you are not obviously injured in a car accident, you should be checked for signs of concussion or shock. You should also see your physician for a follow-up appointment, as you might find that the accident has aggravated existing conditions or strained your muscles, for which you might be able to claim compensation. You will need evidence provided by a medical professional to prove that your health complaints were caused or made worse by the accident.
5. Make notes about the accident as soon as possible, either at the scene of the accident or once you are well enough to review what happened, so that you don’t forget any details. Record the time and place where the accident happened, get statements from witnesses, and make a note of circumstances such as weather conditions that could have had an effect. Take photographs of the damage to your car, preferably using a digital camera that records when the photograph was taken. The more evidence you can present to back up your version of events, the stronger your claim will be.
6. Contact a lawyer who specializes in making accident compensation claims. This step is extremely important and should be carried out as soon as possible. A professional attorney can help you to bring a successful claim that results in the maximum possible amount of compensation for you.
After an accident, the most important points to remember are that you should act quickly and gather as much evidence as you can. There are time limits for claiming compensation, which you must stick to. If you can’t prove that you suffered injuries or that the defendant was responsible for causing the accident, the validity of your case might be brought into question. By following the above tips and enlisting the help of an accident compensation lawyer, you can ensure that you get all the compensation you are entitled to after an accident.
