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AUTO
ACCIDENTS:
Get Even... Call Steven!
DO's
and DON'T'S:
What
You SHOULD Do:
-
Get
medical help immediately
if you feel you have been injured.
-
Tell
the investigating officer what happened.
-
-
Keep
a diary of the accident, stating how it happened,
how you felt just afterward, the pain you endured,
doctor's comments, sleepless nights, etc.
-
Take
pictures of the damage to the automobile,
the injured parties, the accident scene, etc.
-
Call
your insurance carrier and advise them that
you are not making a claim, but they should be aware
of the accident.
-
Talk
to Steven V. Bennett
-
Jump
out of the car and say, "It was my fault. My insurance
company will take care of this!" Admitting
fault on the accident scene is a mistake many people
make. It is for the investigating officer to assign
fault in an accident.
-
Move
your car, unless told to do so by an investigating
officer, or unless you must do so to avoid further
accidents or pileups. The investigating officer will
need to see the automobiles involved in the exact
position in which they were just after the crash,
in order to determine how the accident occurred. Moving
the car might affect his determination of liability,
thereby adding unnecessary complexity to any claims
you might file.
-
Talk
about how you feel concerning any lack of injury.
Many aches and pains do not show up for a number of
days afterwards, and you would make it more difficult
to prove your injury was caused by the accident if
you told anyone at the scene that you have not been
injured.
AUTOMOBILE
ACCIDENTS |
What
Are Your Rights? |
- Property
Damage:
You have the right to have your automobile repaired
to the same condition as it was before the accident.
A property damage claim should cover expenses pertaining
to:
- Damage
to your automobile
- Other
property damage
- Rental
cars
- Loss
of Income:
You have the right to recover any financial losses
you may incur due to the accident, including:
- Lost
Wages
- Lost
Profits
- Other
income losses
- Medical
Bills:
You have the right to recover your medical expenses
related to the accident. Examples of a medical loss
claim include:
- Emergency
room
- Physicians
visits
- Hospitalization
- Medications
- X-Rays
- Follow-up
treatments - Surgery, physical therapy
- Transportation
to and from medical facilities
- Injured
Passengers:
If there are individuals in the car with you who
were injured in the accident, they have the same
rights as you.
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- Pain
and Suffering:
You have the right to compensation for the pain
you experience as a result of your injuries. Naturally,
the greater the injury, the more pain and suffering
will be associated with that injury. Examples include:
- Shock
and mental distress
- Cuts,
bruises, and contusions
- Neck,
back or limb pain
- Headaches
- Broken
bones
- Pain
due to follow-up treatments (e.g., surgery)
- Future
Damages:
You have the right to recover any expenses which
may be incurred long after the time limit for filing
a claim. Examples include:
- Future
pain and suffering
- Future
medical treatments
- Diminished
capacity to earn an income
- Permanent
disabilities
- Injury
to Spouse:
The law recognizes the rights of individuals who,
due to their injuries, have suffered an inability
to provide conjugal fellowship. This is called Loss
of Consortium, and in such cases,
your spouse may be entitled to recover.
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