Being in a car accident can be an extremely stressful time of your life, especially if you are on your travels when it happens. Your car may be damaged beyond repair, and you may even be injured yourself, which could result in a lengthy and expensive stay in the hospital, and you could be faced with months of convalescence without an income to support you. If you find yourself in this situation it is important that you know the right steps to take, because if you make an error then you face the prospect of receiving no compensation for the damage caused to your vehicle, or compensation for your injuries and loss of earnings. In this article, we are going to take a look at these steps, so if you are interested in finding out what to do after you are involved in a car crash, then read on.Four steps that you should follow if you ever get into a Car Accident During Your Travels.Take a look at this list of Travel tips and advice.
Steps to Follow if you get in a Car Accident During Your Travels
Document Everything
When you are involved in a car accident, you are going to need to prove the facts of the matter to not only your insurance company but also to that of the other party, so, for this reason, it is vital that you document absolutely everything. This means that you should take photos and/or videos of the crash scene, the damage caused to the vehicles, and also any evidence that is left on the road in the form of skid marks or damage to roadside furniture. If there are witnesses, you should have them make a statement, and you should also ensure that the police are on the scene as soon as possible. If you fail to take these steps then you run the risk of any compensation being refused as you will have nothing to back up your case.
Seek Medical Attention
The second thing that you should do after being involved in an accident is to seek medical attention. You may be on your travels in an unfamiliar place such as Houston, so you will need to find your nearest emergency medical facility using a bystander or the power of Google. On the surface, it might appear as if you are uninjured, but this could be a side effect of the shock that you are experiencing, so you must seek medical attention regardless of your condition. If you do not, then opposition insurance companies will rip your claims for compensation to shreds as they will assert that your injuries were not caused by the accident if you aren’t immediately assessed by trained medical staff.
Hire a Lawyer
Now is when the difficult process starts, as you will be away from home, and you will be unsure of the legal situation in Texas. A car accident attorney Houston professional will be able to take you through the procedures in order to gain the maximum possible compensation for your ordeal and will be well versed in the local state laws. They really earn their mustard, however, when it comes to negotiating a settlement with opposition insurers, who will try and pay as little as physically possible.
What Can I Claim For?
There are many different things that you can claim for when you are involved in an accident. The most obvious are costs to cover the damage to your vehicle and compensation for your physical injuries, but there are multiple other things that you can claim for. Loss of earnings should be at the top of your list because if you are incapacitated from your injuries for several months, you need to know that you can still afford to live. If you can no longer drive or are too scared to, then you may rely on public transport or friends and family to get from A to B, and if so, then these costs can be claimed for as well. If a family member or friend has to do your shopping for you, or you need their assistance in your home, then you can also claim for their time. Make sure that you document all these auxiliary costs as they really do add up, and you should not leave them from your compensation claim.
When going to get your car fixed, make sure you get multiple quotes. This can not only help you save money on your smash repairs but also help you find the right shop for the job.
As we have learned there are several things that you should do if you are involved in a car accident on your travels. The first thing is to document the scene of the accident in the form of photos and videos, and then you should go to the nearest medical center as soon as practically possible in order to check if you have any injuries or not. Hire a local lawyer to take you through the compensation process and don’t forget to claim for all your auxiliary expenses.
