The aftermath of a crash can be overwhelming, and you may be wondering what to do after a car accident in Georgia. First of all, you should get the medical attention you need and follow through with your doctor’s recommendations.
Then, be aware of how your words and actions can affect your case. How you handle interactions with insurance companies and the other involved parties can affect your case’s outcome. Below, you can learn more about what to do and what not to do after a car crash.
1. Get Medical Care and Follow Your Doctors’ Orders
One of the most crucial steps you can take after a car accident is to seek medical attention. This is not only important for your health, but for your injury case. Getting medical care promptly means that:
- You can link your injuries to the car accident.
- You can prove the severity of your injuries.
- You can show that your injuries kept you from working.
For instance, let’s say that you immediately started to feel serious neck pain after the crash but didn’t see a doctor for your symptoms. The neck pain only got worse as the weeks went by, and you needed to start missing days at work.
If you didn’t go to a doctor after the crash, it may be hard to prove that your neck pain was a direct result of the incident. In fact, an insurance company may deny your claim altogether if you didn’t document your injuries soon after the accident.
Your Treatment May Not End with Emergency Care
Once you get treatment immediately after the accident, continue following your doctors’ orders. They may recommend that you:
- Get rest and stay home from work
- Limit your normal activities and avoid strenuous hobbies
- Take certain medications
- Attend physical therapy or rehabilitation
- Attend follow-up appointments
- See certain specialists
- Schedule surgery
Any or all of these recommendations could be crucial for your recovery. If you don’t attend these appointments or get recommended treatment, the liable party’s insurance company could claim that you made your injuries worse. This could make it difficult to recover the damages you need.
For a free legal consultation, call 404-214-2001
2. Report Your Accident to Your Insurance Company
Most insurance companies require you to make a report of the accident soon after the crash. You should make a report in compliance with your insurer’s expectations.
You can keep this report brief. Make a note of details such as:
- When and where the accident happened
- The other driver’s contact information
- Your license plate number
- Your car’s make, model, and year
You do not need to go into details about fault—in fact, you should avoid doing so. Do your best to keep this report neutral, objective, and polite.
3. Watch What You Say to Third Parties
Speaking of conversations with an insurance company, here’s another important tip: be mindful of what you say about the accident in any context. Consider the following:
- Don’t give a recorded statement. Let’s say that an insurance company asks you to make a recorded statement. Decline to do so. This is not always for your benefit, and in fact, your own words could be used against you.
- Limit your posts on social media. You should avoid sharing any details about the accident or your injuries online. The insurance company could discover this information and use it to challenge your case’s facts as well as its value.
Click to contact our personal injury lawyers today
4. Don’t Accept a Settlement Offer Until You Know Your Case’s Worth
There are many factors that may determine your case’s ultimate value, including:
- Who is responsible for the crash
- The severity of your injuries
- The full cost of your medical care
- How the injury affected your ability to work
- How the injury or accident affected your life and well-being
If the at-fault party’s insurance company calls you soon after the crash and makes a settlement offer, be wary. This may not reflect the actual amount you deserve.
Often, you should wait until you have a clear prognosis from your doctor. This way, you can be sure that your settlement reflects your future accident-related care.
Also, your settlement offer may differ based on who is liable for the crash. Let’s say that a rideshare driver caused your crash. In this case, you could seek compensation through a rideshare company’s insurance policy—and the maximums of these policies could be higher than most personal auto insurance policies.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
5. Hang Onto Important Evidence
Another crucial step to take is to keep any evidence that could be relevant to your case. A lawyer will gather additional supporting evidence if you choose to hire a law firm, but your own evidence can go a long way in strengthening your case. Hang onto:
- Receipts for any out-of-pocket expenses
- Contact information for witnesses to the accident
- Photos of the accident scene or your injuries
You can also keep a pain journal to detail how the accident is affecting your day-to-day life.
6. Get a Free Case Review From a Georgia Injury Lawyer’s Team
A car accident lawyer can help you understand several important details about your case, such as:
- What damages you could be eligible to seek
- Who is liable for your accident
- Whether you should proceed with an insurance claim or lawsuit
- How you can seek compensation for intangible damages, such as pain and suffering
- What state or local laws may apply to your case
- What to do after your car accident in Georgia
If you get a free case review, you can learn several details about your case that can help you go after the best compensation possible.
If you choose to work with a law firm, a case review is also a great way to learn more about the firm and how a lawyer plans to proceed with your case.
Call Kaine Law for Your Free Case Review After a Georgia Auto Accident
Kaine Law will seek the best possible outcome for your case, as our previous results attest.
During your free case review, we will tell you more about your next steps and how we can help. Our lawyers work based on contingency, so we charge nothing up front to get started on your case.
Connect with our firm by dialing (404) 214-2001.
Call or text 404-214-2001 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
