Did You Know?

There are 12,000 injuries and 130 deaths involving school buses annually

Dealing with an Insurance Company

Insurance companies have all of the legal help they need on their side and so should you. We've all heard stories about tactics insurance companies will use to get you to settle quickly and cheaply.

Insurance companies understand car accidents bring confusion to people's lives. While they claim to offer hope and security to accident victims, sometimes they only make your recovery more confusing and difficult. Keep in mind that insurance companies manage their profits by paying less money to people injured in an auto accident -- people who need it. They do this by taking advantage of any instances where an injured person does not have proof of damages or injuries.

It is always important to:

•  Identify Witnesses, Get Addresses, Interview Witnesses

•  See a Doctor

•  Take Pictures

•  Write Everything Down

•  Keep Records of Your Expenses

•  Consult an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney

At the Scene of the Collision:

Identify Witnesses - Identify the witnesses so there will be someone to support your case if it goes to court. Write down their names and addresses, and interview them. Ask them what they saw, and make good notes that describe what they saw.

Immediately After the Collision:

See a Doctor - If you are injured, schedule an appointment with your own doctor as soon as possible. Don't let the insurance company choose a doctor for you. You have the right to a doctor of your choice.

Photograph Your Car - Take pictures of your car as soon as possible after the accident. When the insurance company asks for proof of damage, it is difficult to dispute a picture taken of your car at the collision scene. Pictures of the damage will help tell your story. If possible, take pictures of the other cars involved as well. These pictures will help supply information about the severity of the impact associated with your collision.

Take pictures of your injuries before they heal. In many cases, the seat belt strap will bruise a client across the shoulder and chest, but after several weeks those bruises heal. Months later, when the insurance company argues that the auto accident was not very significant, pictures of the bruises and other injuries will help solidify your personal injury claim.

Write Everything Down - Keep notes about your injuries. In 6 or 7 months, you might forget how it hurt just to get dressed, and the insurance company will try to make it seem like any description you give is an exaggeration. Write down your pain medications. These kinds of written documents can be very valuable when presenting your personal injury claim to the insurance company or to a judge and jury in court.

Keep Records of Your Expenses - Insurance companies always ask for proof of anything you claim as an expense. Be sure you keep receipts for prescriptions, household services, car rentals and so forth. Keep each of those receipts so you can document every expense.

Consult an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer - Without legal help from an auto accident lawyer, you may have no idea of the real value of your claim. Moreover, the Insurance Research Council found, on average, injured people who used a lawyer received three and a half times more money than those who did not! (Source: Insurance Research Council 1999 study).

The insurance company is not on your side. Its goal is to maximize profitability and stock value by giving you as little as possible after your auto accident. You will need to talk with an experienced auto accident lawyer. Don't let the insurance company keep you from getting the money you deserve!

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IF YOU'VE BEEN INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT - CONTACT AN ATTORNEY

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