Tips on Making an Automobile Compensation Claim

Automobile accidents can be a harrowing and traumatic experience for anyone.

As a result of the chain of events, it will be difficult to think clearly of what you should do after the car accident.

Once confused, you may do some stupid things like leaving a scene of the accident without permission.

If that happens, it will seriously jeopardize your automobile accident compensation claim and you may even be prosecuted by the state for leaving the accident scene.

The best thing you can do after a car crash or collision is to clear your head and follow the following steps:

Stop the Car and Check for Injuries

Under California state laws, you are required to stop your vehicle and exchange information with the other drivers.

You should take this time to check yourself and your passengers for injuries.

Apply first aid to minor injuries if you know how.

Call 911 as well to inform authorities of the accident. If there are injured parties in the accident, you should inform the operator as well so that they can send paramedics on the scene.

Exchange Information

The following are the information you need to provide and get from the other drivers involved in the accident:

* Name

* Address

* Contact number

* Insurance policy number

* Insurance provider

* Name of vehicle owner

The attending police officer may also request you and the other drivers to present your driver's licenses.

You should also talk to the attending police officer about obtaining a copy of the police report.

Take Note of Accident Details

Note the details about the conditions during the accident including:

* Road and weather conditions

* Plate number, color and model of the cars involved

* Time and date of the accident

Take pictures of the accident as well. Include the tire skid marks--photos of the skid marks can help investigators prove the speed that each vehicle is going before the collision.

Talk to witnesses as well so that they can support your statements in the future.

Call your Insurance Provider

Your claim may be denied if you report the accident later than what is said on your policy.

However, you should also be careful when talking to an insurance adjuster:

Remember:

* Don't admit to any liabilities (even if you feel you have some).

* Don't accept any offer without consulting a lawyer (the amount may be smaller than what you deserve).

* Do not sign any release or waiver especially if you do not understand what it is about.

Keep all Bills and Receipts

Keep all the bills and receipts of all losses related to the accident including medical and car repair expenses.

You should also talk to human resources about getting a copy of the hours you missed from work to show your lost income.

These should serve as evidence of the damages you sustained because of the injury.

Contact a Lawyer

Before submitting all the paperwork to your insurance provider, it is recommended that you seek help from a qualified car accident attorney.

Your attorney should be able to brief you on what you can and cannot say to insurance adjusters and negotiate on your behalf to make sure that you will receive the right amount.

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