Car accidents are one of the most common accidents that people face. There are millions of cars out on the road and not everyone is the most careful of drivers. As well as this, accidents do happen that can completely out of the blue and cause serious injury to not only you but your property or family.
The experience of an accident can be traumatic enough without having to wonder what the financial burden may be. This article will help you understand the amount of compensation you may be due and how to get it.
What to do after an accident?
Immediately after an accident, you should make sure that you, any passengers you were carrying, and anybody else involved are okay. You should seek medical attention as soon as possible if this is not the case.
The next task to complete is to start gathering evidence. This will be the most important documentation to have in hand when it comes to putting together a claim. Useful pieces of information include the name, contact details, and address of those involved and any witnesses to the accident. Additionally, photos of the accident and damage done to your property will be of utmost significance when calculating the expected settlement.
You can never have too much information. Getting a copy of the police report and a record of which officer came to the scene will also be handy. Your attorney and insurance provider will want these details.
Contacting your insurance
The next step will be to contact your insurance and inform them that you have been involved in an accident. They will likely ask for all of the above details and ask you to begin establishing blame. Blame is one of the most crucial aspects of an accident as it determines who was at fault and who will have to pay out, whether through their insurance or out of their pocket.
What can be claimed for?
When it comes to car accidents there a lot of different claims that can be made. One of the most obvious ones is the damage that is done to your car and any material possessions that you were carrying at the time. Medical bills can also factor in this as dependent on the injury, the money owed to the hospital can soon rack up. Of course, the more serious the injury, the more likely that the cost of medical attention will be higher.
However, there are also some lesser-known claims such as loss of future wages, dismemberment, loss of consortium (The loss of physical affection from your spouse). All of these can be added into a claim, should they prove true, and will affect the settlement amount.
How much could you expect?
As you would expect, the range of settlements varies and often have a lot to do with the circumstances of the accident. Who was at fault, how much injury has taken place, to what extent was your life affected are all things to consider. To get a firmer idea of an amount, you are better off contacting a specialist who will be able to help you.
