You're Not Alone: The Dos and Don'ts of Filing a Car Accident Injury Claim

Dealing with the aftermath of a car accident can be trying under the best of circumstances, but when you’ve been injured and are faced with the prospect of physical therapy, medical expenses, lost wages and more, it can seem almost impossible to manage. 

Take time to heal

If you have suffered an injury in a car accident, it is important to take the time to heal so that your body can recover properly. Aside from physical recovery, it is also imperative to allow your emotional health to mend and adjust before making any decisions. Remember that while you may be eager to take legal action against the responsible party, suing them might not actually help your case. 

In order for an injury claim or lawsuit to be successful, you will need strong evidence (e.g., photos, eyewitness testimony) along with expert testimony in support of your claims. Talk with someone at Washington Law Center who can advise you on the best path for pursuing your case and provide the necessary assistance in filing the appropriate paperwork. It is important to remember that injuries do not just impact your ability to work, but can affect all aspects of life including family relationships, friendships, and general well-being.

Collect information

Dealing with an accident can be really hard, especially if you feel like you were injured as the result of someone else's negligence. In many cases, this leads to victims questioning what they should do. It's important to know that while filing a car accident injury claim is not easy, it's possible. Our lawyers have answers to some common questions about how the process works below.

-Are car accident injuries usually covered by insurance? In most cases, car insurance will cover your medical expenses and other losses related to the car accident when they occurred as the result of someone else's negligence. Be sure to consult with your insurance company or agent before submitting any paperwork though-not all companies offer coverage for these sorts of incidents. -What are the general steps I need to take in order to file a car accident injury claim? 

First, make sure you speak with your doctor in order to get their opinion on whether or not there are any long term effects of the incident. Then, start gathering information on the event itself such as who was at fault and why. You'll also want to collect information about any witnesses including their contact information so that they can be contacted later on in the process if necessary. If you have been paying attention, there are a lot of different pieces involved in making one successful claim! 

We've created an infographic outlining exactly what our firm does for each step of a victim's journey from day one through court proceedings so be sure to check it out!

Contact an attorney

Do consult with an attorney as soon as possible 

Do document everything as soon as possible, including expenses 

Don't neglect your health after the accident; don't wait to see the doctor, take care of yourself 

Don't hesitate to ask for help . You are not alone. It is normal to feel overwhelmed by what has happened. At Washington Law Center, we have been representing individuals in car accidents since 1990. We are here to provide free consultations, so contact us today at (206) 678-7900. Our attorneys can help you navigate the complexities of legal proceedings and recover damages from negligent parties. If you or a loved one has suffered a car accident injury at the fault of another, the dedicated attorneys at Washington Law Center can help you recover.

Stay in touch with your doctor

One of the first things you should do after any accident is to contact your physician. Some issues may be minor and can be resolved by following doctor's orders, but others may require additional treatment. By knowing the extent of your injuries, you will be able to take steps to address them sooner rather than later. And if your injury requires therapy or surgery, it is important that you adhere to those instructions as well so that recovery can happen as quickly as possible. In some cases, doctors will prescribe medications for pain management. Always follow their advice on how much medication to take - taking too much can lead to addiction or other problems. 

In some cases, the at-fault driver's insurance company might offer what they call no-fault benefits - which means you'll still need to file a claim with your own insurance company for any medical expenses not covered by the other driver's policy (or in case there are none). 

In all instances, Washington Law Center attorneys are available 24/7 for free consultations and case evaluations in order to help our clients get compensated for their medical bills, lost wages and other damages caused by another person's negligence.

Expect some skepticism from insurance companies

Car accident injury claims are often perceived by insurance companies as fraudulent, so they'll be inclined to scrutinize your claim more heavily than your typical auto insurance claim. Below are a few dos and don'ts when dealing with an insurance company after filing an accident injury claim. 

DO call your insurer immediately if you have not already done so in order to expedite the process of getting reimbursed for medical bills or property damage, which may involve you providing receipts for all costs incurred as well as an estimate for future care. 

Don't get discouraged by insurers who make it seem like everything is wrong with your request because many have automated systems that request this information from people without taking time to review their documents. Be confident and stay calm while talking to the representative on the phone, but do know that you can always send your information via mail. 

Remember, too, that these representatives are trained in detecting fraud--though they should not assume there's fraud just because a person has filed an accident injury claim--so keep this in mind when speaking with them.

Never give up on getting justice for your injuries

One of the things that is crucial for car accident injury claims is time. That's why it's important to never give up on getting justice for your injuries. Even if you were offered an out-of-court settlement, our law firm can make sure that you are in no way financially harmed.

1) An experienced car accident injury lawyer will know how to handle your case quickly and with the best outcome possible. This means finding all available records to help prove that the defendant was at fault for the accident, identifying any pertinent laws in your state regarding car accidents (e.g., comparative negligence), understanding what evidence needs to be gathered, interviewing eyewitnesses or capturing photos, determining whether to take a case to trial or settle out of court and more. 2) Always follow through with your medical appointments. 

If you have been injured, we want to ensure that you receive treatment and a full recovery! A physical therapist might need to perform an examination and offer recommendations on how to manage ongoing pain. Your doctor may recommend physical therapy or other forms of treatment like massage therapy, acupuncture, osteopathic manipulation, chiropractic care and more.