What To Do After a Traffic Accident
If you are even in a traffic accident or car accident in Las Vegas, make sure to check the following steps. If you take these measures before accepting anything from the insurance company, then you can rest assured that you are doing everything you can to maximize your settlement.
Call the Police
Even if you are in a small fender-bender, make the call anyway. A police officer may not come out to the scene for a minor accident. Record the time and date you called. It shows you did your due diligence.
Record Everything, and Sign Nothing
Get the other drivers name, phone number, address, insurance information, and license plate number. Also taking down their driver’s license number and vehicle registration information is a good idea.
Get the names and info of any passengers or witnesses. You may need this later if the other insurance company tries to be difficult.
Take pictures of everything. If you can, get the damage to both (or all) vehicles, personal injuries, road conditions, and anything else you can think of that could be even remotely relevant.
Don’t sign anything at the scene. Do not make any promises as far as covering damages. In fact, don’t make any promises at all. And remember, do not apologize for anything. Now is not the time to be polite.
Seek Medical Attention
If you have immediate injuries, seek medical attention ASAP. If you have minor injuries, a quick trip to your doctor will give you records of accident-related injuries. If these develop into anything serious, this trip makes it harder for the insurance company to claim your injury is unrelated to the accident.
For example, if your neck or back hurts, see your doctor. Even if the pain is tolerable or minor, just make the appointment. It could develop into a more serious problem down the line. If it does, the insurance company might try to claim something else caused the pain.
Contact Your Insurance Company
This conversation is tricky. Most calls to insurance companies or agents are recorded as a matter of protocol. State that you do not want the call recorded. The insurance company may later use what you say in this call to pay you less than you deserve.
If you choose to get an accident lawyer, all other communications with your insurance company should be through your lawyer.
Never, ever give statements to the other insurance company. It’s almost always bad news.
Keep Detailed Records
Even if you aren’t the journaling type, it’d be wise to start one after a car accident. Use this journal to keep track of the following:
• injuries
• medication
• loss of work (days, hours)
• loss of wages
• discomfort/pain (where, when, how intense, how long)
• activities your injuries impede
• anyone you speak to about the accident (name, phone number, extension, title, when, how long, what you talked about)
What if you are in an accident and the other driver doesn’t have insurance? In the state of Nevada, insurance companies must have uninsured motorist coverage on every policy. The only exception is if you sign a waiver saying you specifically denied that coverage.
If your insurance company claims you signed such a waiver, then demand a copy of it. If they cannot give you a copy (they’re required to upon request,) then you’re covered.
Contact a Traffic Accident Lawyer
Don’t accept payments without an accident lawyer to review them. Remember, insurance companies make more money when they pay out as little as possible. If you accept a check or payment without your lawyer looking over it, the insurance company might shortchange you.
What you may think is a partial payment could be a final settlement. Once you accept a final settlement, you cannot pursue more money. This is true even if something else up comes up like a delayed injury or problem with your car that was not immediately apparent.
Call (702) 383-6040 to speak with one of our experienced traffic accident lawyer about your case.
