Getting into a car accident is very upsetting. In addition to physical pain, you have to contend with many doctor’s appointments, time missed away from work, and anxiety every time that you get into a car. However, if you want an insurance company to pay your bills after you have had an accident, you are going to have to document what happened at the scene of the accident and all of the steps of your recovery.
Auto Insurance Rules
There are two basic insurance rules in the United States, fault and no-fault. In a fault or tort state, the person responsible for the accident is responsible for paying its bills. In a no-fault state, a person’s own insurance company will pay their accident-related bills no matter who is at fault. Missouri is a tort state which means the at-fault driver’s insurance company will decide whether to accept or deny your claim.
What to do at the Scene
You will want to call the police right away if you have an accident with injuries. Wait at the scene for the officer to arrive and request a copy of the accident report. Take pictures and get the names of any witnesses. Go to the doctor as soon as you can even if you feel fine. If you think you need an ambulance, tell the police that you do.
Collecting Evidence
Be sure to save a copy of every medical bill that you have. Ask the doctor to give you your diagnosis in writing. If you have alternative treatments such as physical therapy or flotation therapy, be sure to save the receipts from those as well. Save every receipt from both prescription and non-prescription drugs. Ask the HR department of the company you work for to give you a letter documenting all of the time you have missed away from work and the amount of salary you have lost due to your injuries.
Calling the Insurance Company
When you first call the insurance company they will ask you many questions about your accident. If they ask you about something that you do not remember, just tell them that you do not remember. They may ask you if they can record the call, but you do not have to let them.
They will want to see all of the documentation that you have collected. Once you send it in to them, they will accept or deny your claim. If they deny the claim, you will want to call a personal injury attorney. If they accept your claim, they will make you an offer, but before you take that offer, you should call a personal injury attorney.
Insurance companies are notoriously tight-fisted and they have whole departments devoted to keeping their money in-house. A professional attorney will have years of experience in negotiating with insurance companies. They will have legal assistance in their office who are devoted to researching your case.
Choosing an Attorney
The attorney you hire should have plenty of experience in car accident law and a great reputation with the state bar. A trained attorney will work hard to get you the money you deserve. Click here for more information hm-attorneys.com.
Authoritative Sources:
https://www.valuepenguin.com/fault-or-no-fault-accident-decision-affects-auto-insurance-claims