How to Get Cash After a Serious Car Accident

Perhaps you or a loved one has recently been in a serious car accident that is not your fault – for example, let’s say your car is totaled as a result. Maybe you were injured in the wreck, adding medical bills and lost wages to the mix. These costs add up quickly. How do you get the cash you need to cover them, and maybe cover some of your personal pain and suffering as well? As an accident victim, you are legally entitled to damages, but to ensure that you receive everything to which you are entitled, there’s a process you must go through. Here’s a quick overview of what to do in the aftermath of a car accident.

Get medical attention if needed

This is the first priority in any serious wreck: If anyone is injured, call 911 for medical help right away. If you don’t appear injured personally, get checked out by a doctor afterward to be sure. (Some injuries don’t become evident until later.) Be sure to get documentation from every medical service.

Call the police

Even if no one is injured in a serious car accident, get the police on the scene to make a report. If they can’t come for some reason, file a report at the police station – but in most cases they will come to the scene if the accident is significant. Make sure you obtain your own copy of the police report.

Gather evidence

Here’s a tip: everything is potentially evidence, so to whatever extent you’re able, gather as much evidence as possible. Take photos of the accident scene and the damage to the vehicles. Get the other party’s insurance information. Get names of witnesses to the accident, ask what they saw and document their answer if possible. (If you have a smartphone, you should be able to record this as audio or video.) Some of this will be part of the police report, but be proactive and gather evidence for yourself.

Save all documentation

Police reports, interactions with insurance companies, copies of medical bills, receipts – these are all evidence, too. Make sure you keep these in a file, as they document not only the event, but also the losses you’ve accrued as a result.

Hire an experienced accident attorney

Even if the other party’s insurance company appears to be cooperating completely, it’s always a good idea to consult with an accident attorney after a significant car accident to ensure you receive all the cash to which you’re legally entitled. Insurance companies sometimes cut corners, find loopholes or use parts of your own testimony to avoid paying. Having an attorney in your corner can serve as a deterrent – and of course, if you need to sue either the insurance company or the other driver, a skilled attorney can represent your interests and help you get the cash you need. For a free evaluation of your case to determine whether we can help you get cash after a serious car accident, call Sutton Slover today at 404.768.0292.