After a car accident, you are understandably in shock and pain. However, you must strive to maintain composure and avoid making some mistakes. As an experienced Atlanta car accident lawyer at GMV Law Group knows, these mistakes could reduce the value of your car accident claim.
You deserve fair compensation for your damages, so here are the things you must do after your crash.
1. Report the Accident to the Police
In Georgia, drivers must report any traffic accident resulting in bodily injury and/or at least $500 in damages. Failure to comply with this legal obligation can seriously damage your claim. First of all, an insurance adjuster will state that you did not report the crash because you were actually at fault.
Secondly, you will not be able to produce an essential piece of evidence: the accident report prepared by the police officers who arrive to investigate the crash. This report contains very useful information for your lawyer:
- The other driver’s contact and insurance details
- Eyewitnesses’ contact details
- A description of the crash scene
- Diagrams indicating the damages sustained by each vehicle
- Results of DUI tests for both drivers
- Any contributing factors (poor visibility, poor road conditions, etc.)
2. Document the Crash Scene
Although police officers will take photos of the accident scene, do not rely on them alone. In fact, you should start taking photos and videos before they arrive. This will give you the opportunity to capture evidence that the other driver may try to hide, such as:
- A mobile phone in their hand, indicating that they were texting and driving
- Food wrappers on the dashboard, showing that the other driver was distracted behind the wheel
- Skid marks
Also, you can capture images of the exact resting position of the two vehicles after the impact. These images can be crucial in determining who caused the crash and whether it could have been avoided.
Last, but not least, look for any eyewitnesses and ask for their contact details and a short statement describing what they saw.
3. Go to the Nearest Hospital for Medical Attention
When you talk to an Atlanta car accident lawyer, they will ask for your medical records indicating the extent of your injuries and the treatment you received. It is very important to be able to prove that a doctor diagnosed your injuries as soon as possible after the accident.
If you wait a few days, until you start feeling pain and discomfort, you have already damaged your car accident claim. An insurance adjuster will deny your claim and state that you did not prove conclusively that you were injured in the crash. You could have injured yourself at home and decided to use the incident a few days ago as a reason to get your treatment paid by the insurer.
4. Do Not Talk with an Insurance Adjuster without a Lawyer
Speaking of insurance adjusters, chances are that one will visit you while you are still in hospital or recovering from your injuries at home. The first thing to remember is that the adjuster is not on your side, even if they appear friendly and helpful.
Their job is to protect the profits of the insurance company by denying or reducing the value of your claim. They may offer you a quick settlement – do not accept it because it is just a fraction of your eligible damages.
They may persuade you that you do not have a valid claim – do not believe them and give up your chance to get compensation.
Or they may try to make you discuss your crash in detail – do not do it without a lawyer present, because adjusters know how to trick accident victims into admitting fault or contradicting their statements.
5. Contact an Experienced Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer
The first thing you should do after you are released from the hospital is to get in touch with GMV Law Group and schedule an appointment with an experienced Atlanta car accident lawyer. Bring all the evidence you have to the appointment and be honest and upfront in describing how the accident happened.
If you have a valid case, we will represent you on a contingency fee basis – no fees until we win the fair settlement you deserve. As a new client, we also offer you a free case review, so contact us today at 404-975-4878!
