A Good Attorney Is Very Important after a Car Accident

You hope it will never happen to you but if you are injured in a car accident, there are steps to take right away to protect yourself. You may be entitled to a settlement if you must be off work due to your injuries and if someone must care for you for the duration of your recovery. Follow these important steps to ensure you receive the settlement you should get.

Call the Police

Many people assume that someone else will inform the police of an accident and this is simply not always the case. If you are not severely injured, make sure you contact the police to report the accident yourself. Along the same lines, ensure you receive a copy of the police report so you can give it to your lawyer and to have a copy for yourself.

Contact Your Job or School

Not long after your accident, you will need to contact your job and let your employer know you will be off work for a while (if this is the case). If you are still going to school, let your school know you will be away and what the reason is. Get a leave of absence notification so you can also use that in your suit.

Contact Your Insurance

One of the first things you should do or someone you trust should do if you are unable to is to contact your insurance company. This includes health insurance and car insurance companies if they are not the same one. You will have to let them know of the accident and start paperwork for your health benefits for your treatment.

Your car insurance company will have a look at what your mechanic says about the car to see if it's fixable or not. Make sure you get copies of any reports that are made by either insurance company.

Keep All Receipts and Record Time Off

It is important to keep any and all receipts of any parking costs, hotel costs and food expenses from hospitals or care facilities for you and your family members. Also, keep a record of time off for both yourself and those who are taking time off from work to care for you.

Tell Your Family Doctor

You might have been treated at the hospital so get a record of your stay there. At the same time, inform your family doctor of the accident and have them check you over as well. Make sure you receive a report of your treatment and diagnosis from your visit here too.

To learn more about what to do after a car accident, contact a car injury attorney.