How do I file a Claim for My Auto Accident Injury?

After any kind of an auto accident there can be a lot to think about. Once the obvious concerns are taken care of and you've made sure everyone okay, everyone's thoughts inevitably turn to the insurance concerns which must obviously be taken care of in all cases of a collision. However, most people aren't sure what they have to do to file an injury claim. Here are some steps to take when filing an insurance claim.

If you have been injured in an Auto Accident, the first thing you should do is contact a personal injury layer. The problem with trying to file a claim yourself with an insurance company is that there are many loopholes and back doors to even the simplest insurance policy that a non-expert would be totally unaware of. If you have been injured in an auto accident, in many cases you will be entitled to compensation for that injury, especially if the other driver was at fault. However, their insurance company may try to avoid paying out this claim which is why you need the services of a personal injury lawyer.

Whether you make your claim through a personal injury lawyer or if you decide to try and make your claim yourself, the important things remain the same in any insurance claim. Be sure to obtain all relevant information from the other driver about their insurance carrier and their contact information. Take detailed notes of what happened and about what the damage at the scene was. Also, if you have a digital camera, taking pictures of the scene immediately after the accident can be very helpful whether or not you contact the insurance carriers directly or if you decide to utilize the services of a personal injury lawyer. You may also want to obtain the contact information of anyone who was a witness to the accident.

Auto Accident Claims Can Be Difficult

For those individuals who have been involved in an auto accident before, you already know the struggles of filing an auto accident claim. Of course, there are many individuals who have not yet had to face the difficulties of filing such a claim. Many people just don't realize the utter frustration of it all.

When you file an auto accident claim, your information is provided to the other individual's insurance company for investigation and approval. What many of these insurance companies then attempt to do is call the victim. If you answer that call and speak with that auto insurance company's attorney, you will likely be asked a variety of questions regarding your claim; some of which could easily be misleading. Instead of just clarifying the instance, the attorney could be building up defense for the insurance company. You see, an attorney is hired to represent the interests of his or her client - not the interests of the opposing party.

In most cases, the insurance company's attorney will likely call again. Sometimes it is to offer a settlement - one that is usually much, much lower than what you are actually entitled to - but sometimes it is to try to get more information. Worse yet, if you are not knowledgeable of the law, you may not understand the questions that are being asked.

If you retain the services of an attorney, they can even check your claim forms, prior to you sending them away, to ensure that you have filled everything out properly. Your attorney can also be forwarded any telephone calls from the insurance company so as to ensure that your rights are preserved. The point is that, if you have a knowledgeable attorney on your side to represent your best interests, you will not be taken advantage of by the insurance company.

I've been Hurt in an Auto Accident - What Now?

You hear the screech of the rubber behind you. You know that sound; it’s the tires of someone’s vehicle trying to stop at the last minute. You look up into the rearview mirror just as their vehicle comes crashing into yours. The impact is so forceful that it forces your vehicle into the intersection ahead and you are hit from the side by another driver who was just as surprised as you were.

You know that you are hurt, but you aren’t sure how bad because the adrenalin is rushing through your body, temporarily numbing you to what just occurred. You hear the sirens, you see the flashing lights, and your body starts to allow you to feel the pain. You were just injured in an auto accident. What are you going to do now?

When you are injured in an auto accident, the first thing to remember is to assess your injuries before you ever think about moving. If you are conscious, you can tell someone where the pain is – even if you are unable to see the area that the pain is coming from, which is often the case when a limb is pinned within the twisted metal of a vehicle.

If you are injured, but able to move, you should try to remove yourself and any passengers from the vehicle. Accidents often cause punctures in several fluid reservoirs, including the gas tank, and you don’t want to be in a vehicle that is leaking anything flammable.

Once you and your passengers are safely away from the vehicle, you need to either call, or ask someone else to call 911 so that the proper individuals will be dispatched to the scene. You should then assess the situation and help any other individuals who were involved if possible.

Many auto accident injuries require several visits to doctors and some even require surgery. With all of this comes loss of work and likely the inability to care for your family during your recovery. You are entitled to compensation for this, which is why you should contact an attorney immediately.

10 Motorcycle Accident Fact - National Motorcycle Awareness Month!

In celebration of National Motorcycle Awareness Month, we've put together this top 10 list.

These facts represent research which has proven many trends in motorcycle accidents. By being aware of these trends and statistics you can take the necessary action that you need to in order to ensure that you stay safe while on the road.

1.Three quarters of all motorcycle accidents involve another vehicle. These are almost always a regular car or truck, not another motorcycle.

2.A full half of motorcycle collisions which are fatal involve alcohol.

3.The most common cause of an accident related to vehicle failure is a punctured tire.

4.Most motorcycle accidents involving another vehicle happen because the other driver doesn't notice the motorcycle.

5.Most of the motorcycle accidents involve people who are self taught or have no training. Generally, those with training are in a fewer percentage of accidents.

6.Motorcycle accidents increase in severity the faster the bike is going, the larger the motorcycle is and the more alcohol that is involved.

7.The single largest thing that a motorcycle driver can do to reduce the significance of an injury while riding is to wear an approved safety helmet. Full helmets with face shields are the most effective at preventing serious injury.

8.The most common location of motorcycle accidents is in intersections. The most common intersection accident scenario is when a motorcycle is proceeding straight through the intersection and another vehicle turns left in front of them.

9.A large number of motorcycle accidents show evidence that the driver applied incorrect techniques to avoid the collision. This refers to the overuse of the back brake and the under utilization of the front break which leads to the skidding of the rear wheel.

10.One of the common trends in motorcycle accidents is that the driver of the motorcycle was not paying full attention to driving at the time of the accident.

Reference:

http://www.newyorkbikerlawyers.com/top-motorcycle-accident-causes.html

Top Ten Things to do Immediately After an Auto Accident

These ten tips will help to ensure that if you are unfortunate enough to be in a vehicle collision that you deal with the situation as quickly and as efficiently as possible. These can help you avoid many difficulties with legalities and insurance down the road, so be sure to follow as many as you possibly can, depending of course on the specifics of your situation.

1. This is a pre-accident tip. ALWAYS keep your registration and insurance information in the glove box so that you have a copy at the scene of the accident. This is essential.
2. Check for injuries immediately following the accident. Insurance can always be sorted out later, and human safety always needs to be the number one priority.
3. Turn the hazard lights on in all involved vehicles to prevent further accidents.
4. If the accident is only a minor fender bender, after injuries are cleared, move the vehicles to a safe location so as to not cause any further traffic accidents.
5. Call the police. The authorities always need to be notified in the event of any traffic accident, even a minor one.
6. Swap all essential information with the driver of the other vehicle. This includes names, addresses, driver’s license and insurance information.
7. Do not try to assess blame or fault. Leave that to your insurers and the police.
8. Report the accident to your insurance company. It doesn't matter if the accident is larger or small, it will be in your best interests to directly report the accident to your insurance company as soon as you can with all of the details of the collision.
9. If possible, take a picture of the accident scene.
10. Try to not be the first person to leave the scene of the accident.
    

References:

http://www.statefarm.com/insurance/claim_center/auto/ins_claims_auto_afteraccident.asp

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Insurance/InsureYourCar/WhatToDoAfterACarAccident.aspx