The days after a car accident are crucial. You should be getting the medical care you need, but you should also be taking steps to build a case against the negligent party who caused the accident in the first place. We understand that this can be stressful, which is why we are ready to offer our help. Our Washington, D.C. car accident lawyers can do a lot of the work for you while you focus on recovering from your injuries and spending time with your family.
What Can I Do Right After a Car Accident?
You can start building a case right after the car accident. It’s important to take photographs of the scene and the damage to the vehicles involved, but don’t forget about any other relevant items. Did a road hazard contribute to the accident? Are there tire marks near the scene of the accident? This should all be photographed too.
It’s also important to call the police. They can come to the scene and fill out a report. This report is useful to your insurance company, but it can also be used when you sue for compensation. It’s especially useful if someone else honestly admits their fault to the cops at the scene.
Is It Important to Get Medical Care After a Car Accident?
Your next priority should be getting medical care. We emphasize this even when accident victims don’t feel hurt. Adrenaline can mask pain and injuries. Go to your doctor and get checked out.
Delaying medical care can also hurt your personal injury case. If you do not receive care in the days immediately following the crash and report injuries later, the insurance company might try to claim that you received those injuries elsewhere. They could also argue that you were not all that seriously harmed. Otherwise, you would have needed care immediately.
How Can I Prepare for a Lawsuit?
In the days following the car accident, you should take some steps to prepare for a potential lawsuit. We recommend:
- Keeping all medical bills and other evidence of expenses, like vehicle repair estimates
- Getting a file of all your evidence together
- Not speaking to the insurance company
- Not admitting fault
- Not making posts about the accident on social media
Then it’s time to talk to an attorney.
Will I Have to Go to Trial if I Sue Over a Car Accident?
If you are worried that the process for getting compensation is going to be long and drawn out, we will be honest with you. It could take a while to secure a fair offer. However, it is unlikely that you will have to go to trial. Many of these cases settle before that point. If you do go to trial, we can prepare you for it and build a case that has a high chance of succeeding in court.
Schedule Your Consultation
When you are ready to pursue compensation, contact Trombly & Singer, PLLC. We can schedule a consultation and discuss your legal options with you. If we think that we can help you, we’ll get right to work on building your case.
