Making an accident claim isn’t exactly a fun way to spend your time. However, if you’ve had a nasty accident that you feel you need compensating for, it’s the only way to go about it. You may get your medical bills paid for, as well as some compensation for your injuries. You will also want to stop the accident from happening again in the future, whether it was because of a faulty piece of equipment or insufficient signage. Whoever was at fault for your accident, follow the instructions in this guide to make yours go as smoothly as possible.
Get Police Reports
If the police were involved when you had your accident, it’s a good idea to obtain copies of the police reports. If you can get a number and name for the officer who handled the case, that would be a bonus too. Legal reports like this will help you along the way.
Take Pictures
Take pictures of your accident. You should take pictures of the scene if possible, and of your injury. Don’t just take one picture; take pictures as time goes on if you can. This will allow the insurance company to see the extent of your injuries and how long it’s taken you to recover. Make sure the pictures are timestamped properly so that there can’t be any discrepancies.
Document
Document any interaction you have with the police yourself. Not only that, write down interactions with the insurance company and anybody else who might be relevant. Write down dates, times, and what was said in the conversation so you can easily refer back to it if needs be. This can be in a notebook or on the computer; whatever you find easiest.
Speak to Witnesses
If there were any witnesses, speak with them and ask if they will give a statement to the police. This will back your story up and help the insurance company and courts to realise you are credible. Joe Stephens says that this is one of the best ways you can speed your case along.
Collect Receipts
Collect receipts for any damage caused by the accident and of course your medical bills. You may be reimbursed for these at a later date so having proof of the cost is essential.
Do it ASAP
The longer you leave your claim, the less chance you have of getting anywhere with it. You’ll always have a specific, set amount of time to put your claim in, but you want the experience to be fresh in your mind. The quicker you get the claim out of the way, the quicker you can focus on your recovery. It might help you to know the difference between different kinds of accident claims before you make yours. You may need a little time to heal first, and that’s fine. Just don’t leave it too long.
If you follow the steps in this guide, your accident claim should be as short and hassle free as possible. I wish you a speedy recovery.
See you next time!
