Posted in Wisconsin Workers Compensation Related News
It’s perfectly normal to feel a little disturbed or upset after a car accident. However, after you regain your composure, and if you are able, try to take some of the following steps:
- Take Photos: If you are physically able, take a few photos of the damage to your vehicle, your injuries, and the accident scene. These photos could help a personal injury lawyer Milwaukee respects prove how the accident happened and how severe the immediate damages were.
- Call the Police: When the police arrive at the accident scene, they should make a detailed accident report. This includes essential information, such as what happened, who was involved, and who might be at fault. This report could help you obtain fair compensation for your injuries.
- Talk to Witnesses: If there were any bystanders around at the time of the accident, it might be a good idea to get their names and contact information. Your lawyer may call them to testify on your behalf in court.
- Seek Medical Care: Even if you don’t think you were severely injured, you should still seek medical care as soon as possible. Some car accident injuries can be difficult to detect right away. If you neglect to get medical care immediately, the insurance company might try to argue that you weren’t hurt.
What Should You Say to Your Insurance Provider After a Car Accident?
After a car accident, one of your first actions may be to contact your insurance provider to file a claim. After all, you want to repair your car, recover from your injuries and get back to your routine as quickly as possible. An experienced Milwaukee personal injury lawyer understands this plan of action, but legal representatives also know insurance companies can do more harm than good. Hickey & Turim SC wants to help you understand how to communicate with your insurance agent to protect your right to compensation.
Tell the Truth
For every question that your insurance agent asks, tell the truth. Even if the truth causes shame or embarrassment, you want to do everything possible to protect your claim. Lying could cost you more than you realize.
That said, you need not volunteer information your agent doesn’t ask for. Remember that insurance companies want to make and save money, not spend it on claims. By volunteering information, you may give your insurance provider a reason to reduce your claim or not honor it at all.
Do Not Take the Blame
No matter how obvious it may seem that you’re the at-fault party, do not admit fault to the other driver or your insurance provider. A Milwaukee personal injury lawyer can tell you that rather than admit fault, only stick to the facts of the car collision. Set your emotions and speculations aside and let your insurance company get to the bottom of the matter.
Another reason not to admit fault is you don’t know all the circumstances at play in the accident. Maybe the other person drove distracted. Perhaps the road needed maintenance to keep motorists safe. Your car could have a mechanical defect, which could mean a parts manufacturer bears fault for the accident and injuries you suffered.
Do Not Say You Do Not Have Injuries
During an accident, adrenaline flooding your system may mask injuries. You could immediately notice cuts and bruises, but you may have internal bleeding or a neck injury you don’t notice until days or weeks later. Saying you emerged from the accident unscathed could limit your right to compensation.
With help from a physician and a Milwaukee personal injury lawyer, you get a thorough diagnosis of the harm you suffered. That way, you know how much to seek in compensation. Let Hickey & Turim SC help ensure you don’t declare statements to your coverage provider that could become ammunition.
If you’ve been involved in a car accident, you might want to schedule an appointment with a car accident lawyer Milwaukee Wisconsin clients recommend. At Hickey & Turim, S.C., we know that car accident injuries can be painful and frustrating. Filing an injury claim may help you as you recover. We have been successfully representing clients for almost three decades in getting the financial compensation they deserve for their injuries. A skilled car accident lawyer Milwaukee, WI residents trust from our firm would be happy to meet with you and discuss the specifics of your situation and how we may be able to help.
While it’s typically recommended that you contact a car accident lawyer Milwaukee Wisconsin clients depend on for counsel that is specific to your individual case, the following information may still be helpful.
What to Do After a Car Accident
Immediately following a car accident, determine whether anyone needs emergency medical care. If so, call 911. If immediate medical care is not required, it is still crucial to contact police. Failure to do so may result in legal problems. The police may also make a determination of who was at fault for the crash, which could help if you are injured and need to seek financial compensation.
If you are physically able to do so, try to speak with other witnesses who saw the accident or ask for their contact information. Photos of the crash, including photos of the vehicles involved and photos of the accident scene, can also be useful evidence to collect. All of this information can assist your Milwaukee car accident lawyer in preparing the accident claim against the other driver.
It is important to also seek medical attention, even if you think you only have minor injuries or no injuries at all. An experienced car accident lawyer Milwaukee, WI locals rely on knows it is common for car crash injury symptoms to appear hours, or even days, after the crash occurred.
You may also need to notify your insurance company, but be wary of how much you tell any insurance agents. You may be contacted by another party’s insurance company if that party was liable for the accident. Insurance company adjusters are trained in interviewing techniques that could manipulate the conversation with an accident victim. Many adjusters appear very friendly and sympathetic to your injuries and may sound as if they are looking out for your best interest. It is important to be aware that the top priority of an insurance adjuster may be how they can save their company the most money and pay victims the least amount of damages possible. Rather than speaking directly with an insurer, politely decline to be interviewed and say that your car accident lawyer in Milwaukee WI can be in touch.
