What You Should Know About Dealing With Insurance Companies After A New Haven Auto Accident

There is nothing more frustrating then getting into a New Haven auto accident. In some instances it goes well beyond frustration as it can be damaging to your future with serious injuries and property damages as a part of the equation. Either way, getting into an accident can be life altering and it can put you in a situation where you are required to work through some serious issues that you otherwise didn’t have in the weeks, months and even years leading up to this type of accident. An accident is unexpected and therefore the work around the accident will be unexpected as well.

If you’re in a serious accident that causes you to experience an injury your first and most important step is to get your health and well-being taken care of. You should immediately see a medical professional to make sure that your health is placed at the top of your priority list. Even if you believe your injuries to be minor you may need to see a medical provider to insure that even the smallest of injuries don’t compound over time and turn into serious health conditions that could follow you throughout the remainder of your life. Things like back strains or neck strains may feel like a nuisance at the beginning, but if they are not addressed immediately they could linger and cause health problems for years to come.

Once you’ve been cleared by a medical professional you will want to begin work with your car insurance company. Car insurance companies play a large role in your “recovery” from getting into the accident. While they may not be your medical provider and be addressing those concerns, they are involved in property damage claims and any medical attention that you might seek and need coverage for over the course of the time you are dealing with this accident. While you may be facing unexpected and uncharted waters for yourself and your loved ones, you will need to interact with insurance companies and take their role in the process seriously.

Of course, there is good news. You may not need to deal with your insurance company at all if you engage with an attorney who can review your situation and work with the insurance companies on your behalf. However, before you get to that point, you will want to know a few things that will make your interactions with the insurance company more beneficial to you.

1.) Gather Information. If you are able to gather information at the scene of the accident that is the thing you should do. You should get the names of those who are involved in the accident, contact information and insurance information. Everyone who is involved in the accident should share this information freely so you can all take care of the situation in a timely and fair manner.

2.) Take photos. Also while at the scene of the accident you may want to take photos to be used as evidence when interacting with the insurance companies. You will want to take photos of the damaged car, the area around the accident and any intersections that might have been involved with the crash so it is clear what the overall details were. If you are able to you may even want to take some video so you can collect information that gives the sense of what the traffic at a particular location is like.

3.) Record details. Remember that after an accident you may be shaken up and struggle to remember things. As you get your bearings back you should start to jot down some of the details that you remember. Some of the easier things to note are the date of the accident, the location of the accident and a notice of any witnesses that are still available after the accident happens. You may want to note the weather conditions and the condition of the other vehicle as well.

After you’ve handled everything at the scene of the accident you will want to contact your car insurance company and report the accident as soon as possible. When you’re speaking with them you will not want to concede any statements of fault that could be used to imply you were at fault. You should report only facts to the insurance company and then follow their instructions. From there, you may want to engage a New Haven auto accident attorney to discuss your situation with the insurance company on your behalf. If you are planning on working with an attorney you should engage with her/him before you make any formal statements to the insurance company about the accident.

When you’re in an accident there can be a lot of moving parts and it can be hard to keep things straight. You should do your best to remain calm and then take things one step at a time so you get as much of it right as possible.