Important Factors When Filing a Car Accident Claim

There are more than two million people who are injured in car accidents each year in the United States. Those injuries can wreak havoc on a victim’s life. Not only do they have to deal with the pain and recovery, but they often face financial expenses and losses because of the injuries. There are the medical costs for treatment, as well as the loss of income from being unable to work, never mind the damage that was likely done to the victim’s vehicle. If you have been injured in a crash, you should consider contacting a Virginia Beach personal injury attorney to find out what legal options you may have against the at-fault driver. One of the most common of those options is a car accident claim.

Deadlines When Filing a Car Accident Injury Claim

Virginia law allows only a limited time to file a personal injury claim. If you wait too long, you may miss the opportunity to be compensated for your injuries. Your Virginia Beach car accident attorney can explain what the statute of limitation deadlines are in your case.

There are some steps that you can take that will be important to your case. These include:

Contact Law Enforcement

Whether your accident was a major crash or a minor one, contact the police to report it so they will come to the scene to investigate. In some cases, the police may not show up, especially if it appears to be a minor crash and there are no available officers to come to the scene. If this happens, it is important to file an accident report with law enforcement right away.

See a Medical Professional

Even if you are not sure if you are injured you should get checked out by a doctor. Even a minor fender bender can leave you with serious injuries that could end up causing serious physical problems in the future. There are different types of injuries that may not reveal themselves in symptoms right away. If you wait to get checked out, the insurance company could try to claim that you were not really seriously injured because you did not see a doctor right away.

Listen and Document

Whatever your doctor recommends for treatment, make sure you follow that recommended treatment, including physical therapy and medication. Make sure to document all of your appointments. Many victims also keep a log or diary about the injuries, such as how much pain they may be in each day and how their progress is with healing. All of this documentation can be used in your personal injury case to show the effect the injuries had on your life.

Speak with a Virginia Beach Car Accident Attorney

Even if you think you may not have a personal injury case, you should contact an accident attorney anyway. Your attorney will examine the details of your situation and determine if you have a case. Dealing with the car accident claim process can be complicated and if you try to pursue damages on your own, you could end up making costly errors. You should contact a Virginia Beach injury attorney immediately after the accident. In fact, it is important not to discuss the case with the other driver’s insurance company prior to speaking with a lawyer. Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means you will not be charged for a consultation.

Have You Been Injured?

If you have been in a car accident, contact a seasoned Virginia Beach car accident attorney for legal help. Our personal injury firm has successfully represented many injured victims in getting them the compensation they were entitled to for their injuries, like a $235,000 personal injury insurance settlement for one client who suffered a concussion, soft tissue injuries to her back and neck, and a laceration to her face when another driver negligently failed to yield the right of way when attempting to cross a busy highway.

Call Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp today to schedule a free consultation. We will evaluate your case and let you know what type of legal options you may have.

 

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