Question 1

What to Do Following a Car Crash Upon Leaving the Scene?

Accepted Answer

After you leave the scene of a car accident, there are several steps that you should ordinarily take. First, follow through with any recommended medical treatment that you need. Urgent care centers and hospital emergency room doctors might prescribe a treatment plan for an accident victim. The ER doctor may also tell the accident victim to follow up with their primary care doctor if their symptoms become worse. Accident victims may then need to consult a medical specialist, such as an orthopedic surgeon, or attend physical therapy. Completing your medical treatment after an accident serves two purposes. First, seeking continuous medical care helps to ensure that your injuries recover quickly. Second, seeking regular medical care shows insurance company adjusters that your injuries are serious, that you need medical treatment, and that you deserve to recover fair monetary compensation for your injuries. In addition to getting the medical care you need following your accident, you should contact a qualified car accident attorney near you. Your attorney can first investigate your accident by speaking with you and reviewing the police report and any witness statements. If the insurance company is disputing fault for the accident, your lawyer can retain an accident reconstructionist who can go to the accident scene, review police documentation, and assess how the accident occurred – and who was at fault. An accident reconstructionist can also submit a report to the insurance company or testify at a discovery deposition or jury trial about how your accident happened. A personal injury attorney can also retain a qualified medical expert who can serve as an expert witness in your case. A medical expert may be a treating medical provider, such as a primary care doctor or specialist. Expert medical witnesses can establish the necessary causal relationship between the auto accident and your injuries. They can also confirm that one or more of your physical injuries are permanent and likely to cause you ongoing pain and symptoms for the rest of your life. A medical provider can also determine if you may need additional medical treatment in the future and form an opinion about the cost of that anticipated treatment. Finally, after your accident, your attorney should contact your own insurance company and notify them of a potential claim. In most situations, auto accident victims who suffer injuries deal with the at-fault driver's insurance company. However, if the other driver was totally uninsured, or if they did not have sufficient insurance coverage to compensate you for your accident-related losses, you may need to file a first-party claim and involve your own insurance company. These types of claims are called uninsured or underinsured motorist claims. Your attorney can handle all dealings with insurance companies on your behalf, including settlement negotiations in your case.

Question 2

How Long Will It Take Your Car Accident Case to Settle?

Accepted Answer

The amount of time it takes to reach a favorable settlement varies from case to case and often depends on: The specific insurance company and adjuster with whom you are dealing, since some insurance companies are more willing to compensate accident victims than others The amount of investigative work to perform in the case, such as where the insurance company is disputing fault or liability for the accident The specific venue where your personal injury case is pending since some courts have more conservative and less plaintiff-friendly jury pools than others The amount of time it takes you to complete your medical treatment since the insurance company cannot fully evaluate your case until your medical treatment is over. The amount of time it takes to obtain medical records and medical bills from various medical providers, since some providers are not always accommodating, at least initially The number of injured drivers and passengers in the case The availability of experts in the case, especially medical experts, who may need to give an out-of-court deposition Having experienced legal counsel on board in your case may help to expedite the settlement negotiation process, leading to a fair and efficient result in your car accident claim.

Question 3

What Monetary Damages can I Recover in My Auto Accident Case?

Accepted Answer

As part of a car accident claim or lawsuit, you may be eligible to recover various types of monetary compensation, depending upon the nature and extent of your injuries, the scope of your medical treatment, and the total cost of your medical treatment. Some of the most common types of compensation that accident victims can recover include: Related past and anticipated medical costs, for all of the medical treatment that the accident victim suffered since the date of their accident, as well as for anticipated medical costs if the accident victim suffered a permanent injury in their accident Loss of earnings, if the accident victim had to miss time from work following their accident Loss of earning capacity, if the accident victim’s injuries prevent them from working at their current job, requiring that they switch jobs and take a pay cut Inconvenience, pain and suffering for all of the accident victim’s past and anticipated symptoms related to their injuries Loss of enjoyment of life, if the accident victim’s quality of life significantly declined after their accident Loss of spousal companionship and consortium, if the accident victim’s injuries prevent them from being intimate with their spouse Loss of the ability to use a body part, such as from a permanent, disabling injury Long-term care costs of residing at a nursing home or assisted living facility due to accident-related injuries

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