Car accident cases carry with them serious consequences and can negatively impact the lives of those injured. Because these consequences are so far reaching, it is imperative that a person understands all their options by seeking legal advice from an experienced car accident lawyer. There are many complications that can happen after a car accident. All this while the injured victim is seeking medical treatment. It becomes increasingly difficult to keep their life together. That’s why its important to hire a lawyer early so you can prepare your case and obtain the most possible compensation. If you were in a car accident near Bowling Green, Ohio, contact Sawan & Sawan today to speak with a personal injury lawyer from our team.
What immediate steps should I take after a car accident?
After a car accident, you should immediately make sure that you and any passengers are safe. If possible, move your vehicle out of traffic to prevent other accidents. Once you can safely do so, call 911 and report the accident to law enforcement personnel. In most cases, this is legally required and failure to report an accident and leaving the scene can be a criminal offense. If there are any injuries, request medical assistance immediately. Otherwise, gather details from the other driver including insurance information, the other driver’s license, name, and license plate information. Take photographs of the scene and vehicle damage if you can do so safely out of the flow of traffic. Note the road conditions and weather conditions at or around the time of the accident. If there are any witnesses, obtain witness information and statements. Even if you don’t feel injured, always get yourself checked out by a medical professional as certain injuries don’t manifest themselves until later. After reporting the accident, gathering information and leaving the scene, contact your insurance company and report the accident. Once this is done, always consult a car accident lawyer as soon as possible thereafter to protect your rights and assist you in navigating the complicated legal process.
Who pays medical bills after a car accident?
If you are injured in a car accident and have mounting medical bills, it is crucial that you give all the health care providers your health insurance information early in the process and insist they submit all medical bills to your health insurance company. Once they are submitted, you should receive an explanation of benefits showing what was paid. If there are any outstanding balances, submit them under your automobile insurance medical payments coverage if available or pay them out of pocket. Keep detailed records and receipts Any payments made under either your health insurance or automobile medical payments coverage will be subrogated. That means that out of a settlement or jury verdict, you must reimburse them for the payments they made.
How do I obtain compensation for the accident?
As to your claims for compensation after the accident, you or your car accident attorney must gather all medical records and bills that relate to your injuries from the accident. Aside from medical bills, if you miss work because of the accident, you or your lawyer should confirm any wage loss of work with your employer. If other damage was sustained to personal property, include documentation of any other damaged personal items caused by the accident. Once you finish your medical treatment, your lawyer will typically submit all the documents, medical records, lost wages and other damages sustained to the insurance company for review. This usually starts a process of negotiation where the insurance company will make an offer and you can make a counter-offer and potentially settle your claims. It’s important to continue to negotiate with the insurance company until you either accept their final offer or decide to file a lawsuit because the offer is not satisfactory. Ultimately, the goal is to put you back in the same position as you were prior to the accident. It may be necessary to seek a jury trial to reach this same position. Unfortunately, its not always possible to get into the same position as you were prior to the accident. This can be because there is not enough insurance to cover your losses or you have to repay subrogated medical expenses out of the settlement.
Dennis P. Sawan
