If this is the first time you have ever been involved in an accident, you are likely unsure of what to expect. You might be injured, your car probably sustained some damage, and perhaps you have to take time off from work to recover. How do you go about making sense of this event and what can you do to avoid paying for someone else’s negligence?
While no two cases are exactly alike, there are some things you can expect to happen after an accident and steps you can take to minimize any further damage. Below is a brief overview of what you can expect to happen after an accident:
- Seeking medical attention: In some cases, your injuries might be so apparent and in need of immediate medical attention that you might get escorted from the scene of the accident in an ambulance that will take you directly to a hospital. In many cases, however, a person’s injuries do not seem quite so obvious. However, that does not mean medical attention is unnecessary. Once you can leave the scene of the accident, make it a priority to visit the hospital or your doctor as soon as possible, regardless if you feel fine. Many injuries do not produce symptoms in the aftermath of an accident, which means a major health concern could brew without your knowledge. Moreover, failing to seek medical attention will harm your personal injury claim later on.
- Speaking to the insurance company: One of the first calls you can expect to receive after an accident will come from the insurance company that represents the at-fault driver. The reason why insurance adjusters call so early on in the process is to get as much information as they can from you at a time where you should not provide anything but the basics. For example, trying to tell them anything about your injuries at this point will only harm your case since you likely do not know the extent of them yet, nor can you speculate what the recovery process will be like. As such, you should politely decline to disclose anything other than your name, the date the accident occurred, the cars involved, and where the accident happen. You will be able to get into the details later when you and your personal injury attorney draft a demand letter.
- Understanding the worth of your claim: Before you can even get to the task of writing a demand letter, however, your attorney will estimate the value of your claim, factoring past and future medical expenses, out-of-pocket expenses, wage losses, and pain and suffering. This estimate will be used as the starting point for negotiating a settlement with the insurance company.
- Negotiating a settlement: In all likelihood, the initial estimate you go to the insurance company with will not be accepted. If they are reasonable, they will negotiate with your attorney and come up with a settlement that is within an acceptable range. Unfortunately, in some cases, insurance companies are obstinate and refuse to agree on a settlement that is fair to the injured party. If this happens, you can expect your personal injury case to go to court.
Personal Injury Attorneys in Massachusetts
At Percy Law Group, PC, our personal injury attorneys in Massachusetts are dedicated to protecting the rights of the injured and ensuring they are able to recover the compensation they deserve to get back on their feet. If you were injured due to someone else’s careless or negligent actions, put your trust in a team with over 100 years of combined legal experience.
Get started on your case today and call the Percy Law Group, PC at (508) 206-9900 to schedule your free initial consultation. You will not owe us any legal fees unless we win your case.