Getting in injured by another person in a car accident can be one of life’s most exasperating experiences. Accident claims are exhausting.
You’ll find yourself in and out of doctor’s offices, on the phone with insurance companies and meeting with adjusters and evaluators. So what are the most important things to do in the first few weeks after the accident?
1. Get Medical Treatment.
Too many people try to just “sleep it off.”
If your symptoms include neck injuries, back pain, headaches and confusion, an Emergency Room will have the important diagnostic machines like MRIs, that will help identify possible severe injuries, like herniated discs.
If you have any symptoms, go get them checked out, whether by your primary care physician, an emergency room doctor or an urgent care.
If you didn’t go immediately after the accident, go as soon as you can afterwords.
IMPORTANT: Emergency room doctors to focus on immediate safety. They will suggest you follow up with your doctor or continue with more regular care. While this can be frustrating as a patient, having medical records that document your immediate pain will make it much easier for you to file any auto accident claims you make against the person who injured you. Take your health seriously.
Knowing what injuries you have sustained is critical to receiving proper treatments. Without receiving proper treatments, it will be difficult to regain your health.
2. Don’t Be Afraid to Use Your Insurance Coverage.
Some people hesitate to call their own insurance, because they believe their rates will go up.
If you are not at fault, your rates cannot go up.
Without notifying your insurance, you are choosing not to use coverage that you have paid for all year. Call your insurance, file an accident claim, and get a claim number and adjuster for a point of contact.
If you have medical payments coverage, you will want to open an accident claim as soon as possible, because it kicks in right away and can help with immediate medical bills. You might also want to be aware of underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage, in case the person who injured you was not insured, or doesn’t have enough insurance.
3. File a Claim with the Insurance Company of the Person Who Caused Your Injury.
Call the claim department, file a claim and get an adjuster. There might already be a claim open if the person informed their own insurance about the accident. Once you have a claim open, it is generally wise to cease communication. They will call you, and ask for things like medical authorizations or recorded statements. These seem like harmless things to provide to the company, but it often used against you throughout your auto accident claim.
4. Create a Treatment Plan
Between work, family and other obligations, sometimes just getting the treatment you need can be the most stressful part of a motor vehicle accident.
If you begin chiropractic, physical therapy or any other kind of treatment, it is important to listen to your physicians. This can be harder than it sounds–each year many patients extend the length of their treatment by not following the advice of their health care team.
If you chiropractor suggests three visits a week for 5 weeks, you should do your best to try and make it to every session. Work with your doctors to develop a plan that works best with your schedule.
Also pay attention to suggestions your providers make- if after a couple months of chiropractic treatment you feel no difference in your pain levels, it might be time to see a pain specialist or an M.D. Ask for referrals from people you know. There are medical doctors who specialize in accident claims and auto accident injuries!
5. Get a Personal Injury Lawyer
Hiring an Aurora personal injury lawyer will put a layer between you and your insurance company.
Your lawyer will step in between you and the insurance company in order to ensure that the insurance adjuster doesn’t ask for or get documents and information they shouldn’t have. Your attorney know every minute details in the law that helps excel your accident claim forward.
Working with a car accident attorney in Aurora after a motor vehicle accident will help step in and take at least one obstacle off your plate so you can focus on your health and regaining your life.
