When you have suffered injuries from a car accident, then in order to recover your damages for your medical bills, future medical expenses, lost income and non-economic damages, you will have to deal with the insurance company. The majority of car insurance claims settle, but at different amounts depending on the circumstances of the accident. Some cases settle in a matter of days or weeks, but those that go to trial can last for months and, in rare cases, even years. Below is an overall timeline of a car accident case beginning from the date of the accident.
Immediately Following The Accident
After your accident, there are steps that you can take to help your case. First, check on any passengers in your vehicle, as well as the driver of other vehicles involved, and their passengers.
You must call 911 and let the dispatcher know if anyone has been injured. Then, if you can, begin to collect evidence. Get the other driver’s name and address, phone number, email address, and car insurance information. You will also want to write down a description of the other vehicle, license plate number, the location of the accident, and the time.
It’s also a good idea to take pictures that include all of the vehicles and their license plate numbers. Additionally, close-up shots of injuries and damage can help your case.
Before you leave the scene of the accident, be sure to get a copy of the police report. If the officer did not give you a copy of the please report, then you can request one from the local department’s records office.
Vital Next Steps
Now you need to report the accident to the at-fault party‘s insurance company. It’s also important to be mindful of what you say. Because you will be receiving phone calls from the insurance company asking you to give statements about the crash, which could implicate you or affect how much you get in compensation later, it’s important to speak to a car accident lawyer first before talking to them.
After you have hired an attorney, they can take days to weeks or even months to come up with a settlement, though it’s very rare that it would take so much time.
This is the discovery phase when your attorney is putting together your case. They will collect evidence such as:
- Your medical bills
- Your medical records, including diagnoses and prognosis from your physicians
- Any medical records from a physical therapist or chiropractor
- Wage or salary information (for the purposes of calculating lost wages)
Settlement Letter
After your attorney has submitted the settlement letter, the insurance company will get back to you within 30 days. If they need more time to investigate your case, then they will send a letter to your attorney requesting more time and give an explanation. The goal is for your attorney to reach a suitable settlement with the insurance company during this time period, which would conclude your case after only a few weeks.
Trial
If your case goes to trial, then you will need an aggressive and experienced attorney to fight for you, such as the ones you will find at Grossman Law Firm. A trial can last weeks or years. You will want a lawyer who will represent you with compassion.
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