Accidents are inevitable. They can affect anyone, including careful drivers. When you get involved, you should not get mad at the other party; neither should you get shocked by the situation. Instead, it would be best if you sobered up.

Keeping calm will enable you to investigate and document the damages more accurately and make a seemingly complicated process more straightforward. Apply the following tips to ensure that everyone is safe, prepare, and start the claim process, whether you are at fault or not.

Do an injury check

After the accident, you should first do a personal assessment to establish whether you have been injured. If you have been seriously injured, call for emergency services or ask someone else to do it on your behalf. If you have not sustained serious injuries and can move, check whether the other victims are alright. If everyone is sound and cooperative, consider calling the police to witness and assess the accident.

Take snaps or ask a bystander to take the images of the scene and the number plates of the vehicles involved. Take also the identity of the police officers and their service numbers. The above information will help you draft a sufficient report to submit to your insurance company.

Decide whether to file a claim

The accident had minor damages, and the other party is willing to compensate you directly without going through a court process. You can weigh the amount offered against the difference between the possible compensation amount and the cost of preparing the claim. However, direct compensation is risky as the party responsible may craft the details of the accident and hold you accountable.

To be on the safe side, claim for compensation through a court process. If you find it challenging or involving, you can hire a personal accident lawyer's services to guide you through the process. According to experts from tatelawoffices.com, if you have several insurance covers, your attorney will determine the most applicable one and notify them of the accident. They will also inform the other driver's insurance company then follow up on the court proceedings. A personal accident lawyer can help you with your claim burdens and help you get monetary compensation for your injury or damages.

Move to a safer zone

If the vehicles are blocking the way, the chances are that they may be hit by the upcoming cars and worsen an already bad situation. They may also inconvenience other road users by causing a traffic jam. Move the vehicles involved to the roadside if they are still operational or call towing services to get them off the road. Warn the people around to stay away if you sense a danger of explosion and use flares or the emergency reflectors to warn other road users of trouble ahead.

Exchange your information details

As a rule of thumb, you should gather all the other driver's information to follow up on the claim. That is why information exchange is vital. However, it is advisable not to give out too much information about yourself as the other party may use it to hold you responsible. Here is a checklist of what you should include in your list.

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For clarity purposes, backup your notes with a well-customized demonstration of what happened during the accident. Do not forget to show the vehicle directions. Some insurance companies develop apps to help their customers collect audio details of what happened during the crash. If you belong to such companies and installed the app in your smart device, you will be better placed, mostly if you were not responsible for the accident.

Get compensated

If the court approves your claim, it may order the other driver's insurance company to cater for the cost of your vehicle's repair, your medical expenses, and those of other passengers involved. However, the insurance companies will only take liability to pay up to the specified policy limit. In that case, the court will compel the other vehicle owner to compensate you for your injuries, especially if the accident led to amputation or a dramatic lifestyle change. The court will also maintain your records in case you need to appeal for more compensation. That is why it is vital to claim your compensation through a court process.

As you can see, claiming for compensation is a step by step process. You have to inspect the victims for any injuries, collect the relevant information, including the police details, and then report to your insurer. Most importantly, you need to hire a professional personal accident attorney to guide you through the legal process.


WRITTEN BY

Daria Brown