If you are injured in an auto accident in New Hampshire, of course, you are going to want the most compensation you can receive to cover the damages or replacement of your car, your medical injuries and treatment, and any pain and suffering that might last long after the accident has been cleared up. There are several factors that impact an auto claim with an insurance company, but first things first.
Moments After an Accident
Immediately after an auto accident, you should first try to assess your injuries and how severe they are. If you are able, you should also check the other driver and determine whether an ambulance needs to be called for either of you or any passengers. Do not make any statements about the accident itself, such as “This is all your fault,” etc., other than to say that you are calling for help.
If medical attention is not needed, then the first thing you should do is to call the police. The police will help assess the damage, write a report detailing the accident, and then clear the accident from the road. This police report will be an important factor when you go to file your auto accident claim because it will be an unbiased, matter-of-fact account of what happened and who was negligent, and it will contain details you might later forget like the time of day, the weather, and the conditions of the road. The police will also collect information from the other driver so you should not have as little interaction with them as possible. This may sound counterintuitive, but if you say as little as possible to the other driver, then your words cannot be turned against you later.
While the police are assessing the accident and writing their report, you should take as many pictures of the accident as you can before the tow trucks arrive and/or the police or other first responders move any of the vehicles involved to clear the road. You will need to take pictures of the damage to your car, the other vehicle involved, and the entire scene itself. If there were witnesses to the accident and you notice that they took pictures with their smartphones, approach them and ask for their contact information so that you can ask them to send you their photos later, if need be. The more evidence you can collect, the better.
Finally, the last thing you should do after an accident is to call a reliable auto accident attorney such as Tenn And Tenn, P.C. to represent you and provide you with the assistance you will need.
Factors the Insurance Company Will Consider
There are several factors that most insurance companies will consider before making a settlement offer in your auto accident, and these include the following.
- Who was negligent and caused the accident?
- How did the accident happen?
- Were your medical injuries a direct result of the accident?
- Post-accident, has your lifestyle been significantly impacted?
Again, this is where the police report will come in handy in providing an unbiased account of exactly what happened, who was negligent, and the damages that were incurred. Most insurance companies will compare your version of the accident against the police report in hopes that you are exaggerating the accident, but they will be more likely to believe you if your version matches the police report.
If you did require medical attention after the accident, whether it was a trip in an ambulance to the hospital or a visit to see your doctor in the following days to have your neck or back examined, you can get a report from either the emergency room and/or your doctor that details the extent of your injuries. This, too, is important documentation when filing your accident claim. If your injuries require extensive physical therapy in the weeks or even months after the accident, you will want documentation from your physical therapy sessions as well.
At Tenn And Tenn, P.A., we understand how difficult auto accidents are and the impact they can have on your life. If you were involved in an accident, contact our office to learn how we can help you and your unique circumstances.