What to do if You Are a Passenger in a Motor Vehicle Accident?
Being in a car accident can be a frightening experience. As a passenger in a car accident, you may be injured, and your personal property may be damaged. You may have options to recover for your injuries and damages against the driver of your vehicle as well as the other driver – depending on who was at fault, what insurance is available, at what assets the at-fault driver may have. You may also be able to make a claim to your own insurance policy depending on the insurance your carry.
It is extremely important to get immediate medical care and treatment for injuries sustained in an accident. Proper medical care will help ensure you get the right kind of treatment to promote recovery to the fullest extent. Since people tend to fall apart naturally as they age, they don’t need lingering injuries to enhance any complications with the aging process or to impede their natural quality of life.
Generally, an insurance claim is initiated by contacting the applicable insurance carriers, especially if there is a question as to who caused the accident or if both parties were at fault for causing the accident. If the driver of your vehicle was not at fault, you may be covered under your driver’s underinsured or uninsured coverage. It may also be important to assert a claim for medical payments coverage under your policy as well as your driver’s policy.
When making a claim for personal injuries and damages, you want to be sure you know the full nature and extent of such injuries and damages. Sometimes, injuries will manifest in the weeks following an accident or you may need additional forms of treatments when injuries and pain remain persistent after initial treatment or physical therapy. Thus, you would not want to rush a settlement for less than policy limits if you are still treating, as you may continue to incur bills for ongoing or future care. It is often wise to wait until you reach a plateau in your recovery to get a firm understanding of the full nature and extent of your injuries in damages. However, it is critical to keep in mind that you will have a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit, and you may be forever barred from bringing a lawsuit if it is not timely filed.
Insurance carriers will not, as a general practice, settle a claim without receiving documentation to support the claim. Such documentation usually includes medical records and bills, accident reports, any wage loss documentation, and documentation of any property damage. While medical bills, lost wages, and certain property damage can be easily calculated, it is often difficult to place a value on intangible losses, such as pain and suffering. Generally, intangible losses should be analyzed on a case-by-case basis given the personal nature of such damages.
Understanding insurance and dealing with insurance carriers can be a difficult and frustrating process. It may also be confusing as to what a person may be entitled to request or recover as a result of an accident. Further, there may other considerations that will need to be addressed as part of a claim or settlement, such as whether any of your healthcare providers or health insurance carrier has a valid or enforceable lien against your settlement, or what can be done to satisfy any liens or outstanding balances owed as a result of the accident.
If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident, you need an experienced auto accident attorney to defend your legal rights. The Attorney for Freedom Law Firm can help you receive all the compensation you deserve. With over 25 years of experience, the Attorneys for Freedom Law Firm will fight for you and your rights. Don’t be bullied by the insurance companies and settle for less than you deserve, call our office today and schedule an appointment. We can be reached 24/7/365 by calling 480-755-7110 in Arizona and 808-647-2423 in Hawai’i.
