Our Fort Wayne car accident lawyers explain how the process works
Thousands of people sustain serious injuries every year in car accidents in Indiana. In an instant, drivers, passengers, or pedestrians can get seriously hurt and need extensive medical treatment, including emergency room care, surgery, and many other types of medical care.
When this happens, injury victims need to act fast to protect their health and their rights. Otherwise, they might not fully recover or obtain the compensation they rightfully deserve for an accident caused by someone else’s reckless or negligent behavior.
Below, you will find a step-by-step guide for what to do after being injured in an accident. Please note this is a general guideline for what to do. Each accident often presents unique challenges. That’s why it’s important to talk to an experienced lawyer as soon as possible to learn more about the legal options that are available to you.
What to do if you’re hurt in a car crash
- Seek immediate medical attention – Whether you’re still at the scene of the accident or it’s a few hours or days later, make sure you have a medical professional examine you right away and diagnose exactly what’s wrong. Untreated medical conditions can have serious, life-threatening consequences.
- Take your doctor’s advice – Being examined by a doctor is just the first step after your accident. Afterward, it’s important to follow their instructions so you can try to fully recover. Such instructions might include resting for a few days, taking certain prescription medications, scheduling a follow-up doctor’s appointment, performing certain exercises, or undergoing physical therapy. This is an especially important step since the insurance company for the at-fault driver may deny your injury claim if you don’t follow your doctor’s orders.
- Take photographs – If you are comfortable doing so, take pictures of any visible injuries you sustained in your accident. Photographs of your injuries can be important pieces of evidence in support of your claim.
- Keep your medical records – Make sure you keep any documents (or copies of them) related to your medical care. Such documents may include medical bills, prescription medication orders, or written instructions from your doctor. The more evidence you have in support of your injury claim, the better.
- Keep a journal – Write down how you are feeling each day after your accident. If you are experiencing pain or other symptoms, simply write down what you are experiencing, when the incident occurred, how severe it was, and how long it lasted. The more detail, the better.
- See a doctor if your symptoms get worse – Pay close attention to your injury and seek immediate medical attention if your symptoms get worse. You know your body best. If something feels wrong, talk to a doctor right away.
- Schedule a follow-up doctor’s appointment – Even if you feel fine a few days or weeks later, it’s always best to have a medical professional periodically examine your injury. Talk to your doctor about when to schedule your follow-up appointment.
- Call your insurance company – Call your insurance provider and tell them you have been injured in an accident caused by another driver. You don’t have to say much during your first call with your insurance agent. Just simply tell them you were hurt and you’re receiving medical care for your injury.
- Don’t talk to the at-fault driver’s insurance company – After a serious accident, it’s common for the at-fault driver’s insurance company to contact you and any other injury victims. Don’t talk to them. Anything you say can be used by them to reduce or deny your injury claim.
- Don’t discuss your accident – While it might be tempting to talk about your accident with friends or post information about your crash online on social media, resist the urge to do so. Anything you say or write about your accident (even something as simple as “I’m sorry”) could be used as evidence by the at-fault driver’s insurance company to deny your injury claim.
- Call a lawyer – The sooner you have an attorney on your side, the better. Your lawyer can thoroughly investigate your crash and find the evidence you need in support of your injury claim. Your lawyer can also obtain a copy of your official Indiana Officer’s Standard Crash Report and make sure all the information accurately reflects exactly what happened.
Let a car accident attorney fight for you
Don’t take chances with your future after your accident. Take back control. Talk to an aggressive attorney at Glaser & Ebbs, Attorneys at Law. We understand how the legal system works in Indiana. We know how to deal with insurance companies. We don’t back down from a fight. We rise to the challenge. Contact us and schedule a free consultation with a lawyer at our firm to learn more about your legal options. We have offices in Fort Wayne and seven other locations statewide.