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Car accidents are among the most common ways people can be injured. These accidents can result in serious, sometimes even fatal injuries. If you were injured in a car accident, you need the help of a skilled car accident lawyer.
Contact Shelsby & Leoni today for a free consultation. We handle accident and wrongful death claims on a contingency fee basis. This means we don’t charge legal fees if we do not recover for you.
What to Do After a Minor Car Accident
After a car accident, you’ll initially be confused, shaken up, and possibly injured. Although no one wants to think about an accident, being prepared and knowing what to do if one occurs can help you get the help you need and protect your ability to file a claim for injuries and damages later.
What to do when you get in a car accident includes:
- Assess yourself and others involved. If you or someone else is injured, call 911 immediately and request medical assistance.
- If possible, move your vehicle out of the roadway if it is impeding traffic. If you are unable to move your vehicle or if there is a gas leak, do not attempt to move your vehicle. Instead, move away from your vehicle into a safe area, like the shoulder.
- Call the police. Filing a police report can help support a claim for damages and injuries later.
- Gather information. Get the names, insurance information, and phone numbers of other people involved in the accident.
- Collect evidence. Take photographs of the accident scene, and get contact information for any eyewitnesses.
- Contact a car accident lawyer. Determining liability and filing a claim can be overwhelming, especially if you are injured and need to recover. Hiring an accident attorney quickly can help ease the burden of collecting evidence, dealing with insurance companies, and filing claims correctly and on time.
No matter what, do not admit any fault at the scene of the accident and do not give a recorded statement to an insurance company. Even if you believe the accident was your fault, it is not advisable to make any statements about causation or liability that could potentially be used against you at a later date.
Common Mistakes to Avoid After a Crash
In addition to not admitting fault, there are a few other accident mistakes you can avoid.
Don’t Leave the Scene
Never leave the scene of the accident before the police have advised you to do so. Sometimes other drivers will try to get you to take their insurance information and forgo calling the police to file a report. If you need to file a claim for damages or injuries later, a police report can be a vital tool in helping support your claim; never leave the accident scene without one.
Don’t Post on Social Media
Posting anything about your accident on social media is usually a mistake. Likewise, posting photographs of yourself post-accident while you are in the middle of an injury claim may be misinterpreted and should be avoided.
See a Doctor
Get a head-to-toe medical assessment. Even if you don’t think you are injured, you should report to a hospital for a head-to-toe examination to rule out injuries that may not have immediately noticeable symptoms, like concussions or internal bleeding.
Don’t Settle for the First Offer
Don’t accept the insurance company’s first settlement offer. Insurance adjusters work for the insurance company, not for you. They may attempt to offer the minimum amount possible in hopes you will simply take the money.
Having an experienced car accident lawyer on your side can help protect you from lowball settlement offers. Bottom line: Say as little as possible at the scene of the accident and hire an attorney as quickly as possible to represent you. Collect the information you need at the accident scene and head to a doctor to get checked out quickly.
Steps to Take After a Car Accident That Was Not Your Fault
If you are involved in a car accident that is not your fault, you’ll want to follow the same steps listed above immediately following a car accident. If you are injured and/or have damages, you’ll need to file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance carrier. You’ll also want to contact your own insurance company and inform them of the accident.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Claims?
The statute of limitations for car accident cases varies by state. For example, in Delaware, you have two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit against another party. You must begin the car crash claims process as soon as possible so you don’t miss a deadline. Hiring an experienced attorney, therefore, is crucial for accident victims. From the moment you hire us, Shelsby & Leoni will ease the burden of the claims process so you can focus on your recovery.
When to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer
Hiring our team of attorneys means you never have to worry about missing a deadline, collecting evidence, talking to an insurance company without representation, or filing something incorrectly. Our attorneys will:
- Handle communication and correspondence between other parties, their attorneys, and their insurers
- File a claim for damages and injuries on your behalf
- Collect evidence to support your case
- Help determine liability. In some cases, more than one party may be liable.
- Negotiate a fair settlement with insurance companies.
- File a car crash lawsuit on your behalf if a fair settlement cannot be reached.
- Represent you in a lawsuit and at trial, if necessary.
Having an experienced car accident attorney who knows and understands Delaware law can give you peace of mind and allow you the freedom to recover from your car wreck injuries without the stress of worrying about insurance negotiations. Regardless of the type of accident you were involved in, even if you were partially at fault, you should contact our car accident lawyers for a free case review. Some of the cases we handle include:
- Drunk or drug-related car accidents
- Head-on collisions
- Car accidents involving motorcycles
- Passenger injuries
- Car accidents involving rental cars
- Car accidents involving trucks
Types of Car Accident Injury Compensation
Those injured in a car accident caused by the negligence of another party may be entitled to certain benefits. Each case is different, and the actual circumstances surrounding your accident dictate what benefits you may be entitled to. These benefits can include:
- Lost wage compensation
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering compensation
- Death benefits
- Funeral benefits
- Survival benefits
A car accident attorney will identify all liable parties and determine the value of your car accident claim.
Contact a Car Accident Claim Lawyer for Help Today
Following a car accident, you should try to connect with a car crash injury lawyer as soon as possible. We offer free case reviews, during which we will analyze your case and inform you of any benefits you may be entitled to under the law. We charge no fee unless we recover on your behalf.
Give our office a call or contact us online to get started.
