Many drivers do not know what to do if they’re injured in a car accident in Bellevue. Some steps to take include seeking medical attention, reporting the accident to law enforcement and your insurance, gathering evidence, and documenting injuries.
Additionally, avoid making formal statements to the other driver’s insurance company before contacting a car accident lawyer in Bellevue.
Seek Medical Attention as Soon as Possible After the Accident
Receiving a swift, professional medical evaluation should be one of the top priorities of what to do if you’re injured in a car accident in Bellevue. Not only will this ensure your physical health is taken care of, but it can also help build your case.
Documenting your injuries helps show that they occurred as a result of the crash. This can help prevent issues down the road when insurance companies claim that injuries were unrelated and try to avoid providing compensation for treatment. Working with a personal injury lawyer in Bellevue can help you understand your rights and the best way to protect them.
Even if injuries do not appear immediately, it is important to be evaluated by a professional. Often, shock and adrenaline can mask the effects of injuries, but your medical provider may still be able to see them. Injuries may also appear after the fact, so the sooner you begin documentation, the better.
Report the Accident to Law Enforcement
In addition to receiving medical care, reporting the accident to the police is one of the first steps you should take. Oftentimes, officers will collect information such as:
- The date and location of the crash
- Driver information
- Witness information
- Initial observations about the fault
- Road and weather conditions
Since police officers are considered unbiased and objective reporters, what they say often holds much weight with a judge. By contacting law enforcement as one of the first things you do after being injured in a car accident in Bellevue, you provide a vital piece of evidence that insurance adjusters consider when making settlement offers.
Gather Evidence at the Accident Scene if You Are Able
Evidence can fade quickly, so the sooner you begin gathering it, the better. Photographs and videos of the scene, vehicles, and injuries can be essential evidence when building your case. If you do not gather these photos promptly, the scene may be disrupted, and that evidence lost.
Documenting road conditions, traffic signs, and signals can also be helpful. If another driver was not traveling appropriately for the weather conditions or did not follow speed recommendations or information about construction or other road conditions, this may help establish liability.
Gathering witnesses’ contact information can be beneficial in building your case, particularly if they are unbiased. Once they leave the scene, it is often hard to locate them again without phone numbers or other means of communication. The more evidence you can collect, the stronger your case becomes.
Document Your Injuries and Recovery From the Beginning
In addition to receiving swift medical care, it is important that you document everything related to your injuries as one of the first things you do after a car accident in Bellevue. Detailed medical records from your medical provider can be a vital piece of evidence, as they are considered experts in their fields.
It is also important to note treatment plans, medications, procedures, time away from work to attend appointments, and other factors that will likely be ongoing in support of your recovery. This can help demonstrate the time and financial implications of these injuries on your life.
While your pain and suffering are hard to quantify, you may still be entitled to compensation for what you have had to endure. Documenting how the pain affects you on a day-to-day basis, both physically and emotionally, can help provide a more complete picture of how your car accident has affected your life.
Notify Your Insurance Company About the Collision
Most insurance policies have clauses regarding prompt reporting of any accident, even if you were not at fault. This is especially important if the other driver does not have insurance or if it is a hit and run, for which you may want the assistance of a hit and run accident lawyer in Bellevue.
When you speak to your insurance company as one of the first things you do if you’re injured in a car accident in Bellevue, they will likely request basic details about the accident, the vehicle, both drivers, and the police report.
In Washington, your insurance provider cannot cancel your plan or raise your rates for an accident unless you are deemed at fault (RCW 46.52.130). Although many drivers fear reporting accidents, as long as you are not at fault, you are protected.
Be Careful When Speaking With the Other Driver’s Insurance Company
Often, it is the job of the insurance adjuster to find ways to reduce the amount they must pay. They often achieve this by shifting blame, claiming that injuries are not as severe as you claim and that expenses are lower than you claim.
Insurance companies will often ask for recorded statements early on, asking questions about injuries, fault, and settlement offers. They may also request authorization to view your medical records. If you are experienced, this may seem like standard procedure, but it is not.
This is when to consult a lawyer for a truck accident. They can speak with insurance companies on your behalf, spearheading negotiations so you can focus on recovering. A knowledgeable attorney knows how to counter the insurance company’s tactics and secure the highest settlement possible.
Speak With a Bellevue Car Accident Lawyer Today
At Premier Law Group, we understand the impact a car accident can have on your life and are here to help after you’ve been injured in Bellevue.
Contact us today for your free consultation and to get started on recovering the damages that you are owed.
Jason at premier law group is truly an outstanding individual. Our particular case was not something that their firm usually sees but they were more than willing to help us and give us all of the information they had available. I can't recommend them enough.