Some car accidents result in substantial injury and property damage. The New Jersey Department of Transportation reports that in 2017, over 61,000 injuries took place on state roadways. It is a decrease from the previous year, but it is still a lot of people who need to file claims with their insurance agencies.
There is no time to waste after an auto accident. Your car insurance company will look for any excuse to get out of paying you what you deserve. Fortunately, you can do a few things in the immediate aftermath of a crash to increase your chances of a higher payout.
Go to the hospital right away
If you have sustained visible injuries, then you need to go to a hospital immediately. Even if you look and feel fine, you should still go to a doctor’s office. You could have injuries that are not yet apparent. This should ideally happen as soon after the incident as possible. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to prove your injuries occurred as a result of the crash. That is the argument your insurance company will try to use if you delay treatment.
Record everything that happens
After a car accident, you should take pictures of the scene. If there are any eyewitnesses around, then you should ask them if they would offer a statement. You should preserve as much evidence as possible because your memory will not be valid evidence in court.
Seek advanced physical therapy and treatment
After the initial examination, you want to pursue treatment as soon as you can. This is true even if your injuries are not that severe. You should ask your doctor about what treatments are right for you. If your doctor refers you to a specialist, then you need to schedule an appointment right away. Once you know what exactly you need to recover, you will know how much money you need to get out of compensation.