Being involved in a car accident can be terrifying. Such accidents often result in severe injuries, which may require extensive medical care to treat. The damage is often more than physical.
Car accident victims are also subject to intense emotional trauma that may impact their ability to live a satisfying life following the accident. Fortunately, car accident victims are often eligible to file car accident claims that help them recover compensation for their damages. A Horn Lake personal injury lawyer is essential in the process of filing a car accident claim.
With adequate legal support, you can remove a lot of the burden that is typically associated with filing a car accident claim. More specifically, an attorney from Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi PLC can help you negotiate for a fair settlement and, if necessary, take your case to court.
The Impact of Car Accidents
Normally, people feel safe while riding in automobiles. Yet, the stark reality is that traveling by car is one of the most dangerous actions that someone can engage in. In fact, approximately 42,915 people died in traffic accidents throughout 2021. This is a significant jump from the previous year, wherein a total of 38,824 people were killed in car-related accidents.
Protecting yourself while driving requires that you pay close attention to the road and abstain from engaging in distracting behavior. Though, sometimes there is nothing you can do to avoid an accident. This is especially true if the negligence of another driver or other party is the root cause of the accident that injured you.
For example, many car accidents occur due to drunk drivers, distracted drivers, and otherwise negligent drivers who were not paying adequate attention to the road. In these instances, there may be very little the driver or passenger of a vehicle can do to avoid severe injuries. That is why personal injury laws exist to protect the rights of people who are injured in accidents that they did not cause.
With the assistance of a car accident lawyer in Horn Lake, you can increase the odds that you will be able to successfully recover the compensation you need to pay for your medical expenses and deal with the fallout of a serious car accident.
Responding to a Car Accident
Following a car crash, you may be completely shocked and uncertain of what actions you should take next. But, it is incredibly important that you do not panic. Instead, follow these steps to ensure that you have the evidence needed to effectively claim compensation from the driver who hit you.
Call the Police
The police are always available to respond to car accident cases. Therefore, you should always give them a call as soon as an accident occurs. When they arrive, they will observe the scene of the accident and develop a detailed report of the incident.
This report can be extremely valuable when you go to file your claim, so try not to skip this step. Though, if you are severely injured in the accident, seeking medical attention should take priority over anything else.
Speak to Any Involved Parties and Witnesses
After being involved in a car accident, you should leave your vehicle and begin speaking to anyone else who was party to the accident. First, speak to the other driver to determine if they have suffered any serious injuries. If they have, ensure that 911 is called and paramedics are on their way.
Otherwise, you need to determine whether they are intoxicated or were otherwise acting irresponsibly while driving. When the police arrive, report this to them. It is also important that you speak to any witnesses that may have been present at the scene of the accident.
Their testimony could prove invaluable when you start negotiating for compensation, so make sure you gather their contact information and names for future reference. This information will be provided to your Horn Lake car accident attorney, so be sure to document the information in clear and legible writing or use a phone to get a digital record.
Gather Evidence
Evidence is always an important component of any civil claim. Use your phone to take pictures of any vehicles that were involved in the accident, then document other elements such as nearby road signage and signals.
Using these images, your car accident attorney in Horn Lake will build a case that highlights the at-fault party’s negligence. For example, if there is a stop sign nearby that the driver bypassed, showing the location of the stop sign may help them identify who was at fault.
Contact Your Insurance Company
Any time you are involved in an accident, you need to reach out to your insurance and let them know what happened. Depending on the context of the accident, you may need to file a claim with them. Therefore, this step can be very important.
Seek Medical Attention
If you have not already done so, go seek medical attention. This is important for two reasons.
Firstly, you need to seek treatment for your injuries to ensure that they do not worsen. In addition to that, going to get medical care ensures that there is some record of your injuries. These records can be helpful when you file your claim because they serve as documentation of your economic damages.
Beware of waiting too long to seek medical attention. If you do not have a sense of urgency, the defendants in your car accident claim may argue that your injuries are not as severe as you claimed they were.
Contact a Horn Lake Car Accident Lawyer
To put all the pieces together in the most effective way possible, you need a Horn Lake car accident lawyer. They will gather additional evidence and negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf. It is possible to handle this process on your own, but we do not suggest you do so.
Having professional legal support increases your chances of winning compensation, so do not take the risk of going into the process alone.
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Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi PLC
You were injured and the damage is piling up. Do not let the negligent party take advantage of you in this way.
Speak to a lawyer from Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi PLC to start filing a claim for compensation. To get in touch with a lawyer today, use the contact form on this page.