What To Do Following A Car Accident in Loveland
If you or somebody you care about has been injured in a car accident that was caused by the careless or negligent actions of another person, you may be able to recover compensation for your losses. Securing compensation in the aftermath of a car accident in Loveland, Colorado can be complicated, but there are steps the victims in these cases can take to help ensure that they are treated fairly by insurance carriers and other parties involved. Here, the Loveland car accident attorneys at Cannon Law outline these steps.
What you need to do following the accident
When we turn to data available from the Colorado Department of Transportation, we can see that there were well over 7,000 total traffic crashes during the latest reporting year across Larimer County. The statistics show that, out of these crashes, there were almost 2,000 injury-causing collisions and 34 fatal incidents. After a crash, you need to do the following to ensure you are taken care of and that you secure full compensation:
Stay at the scene
Regardless of how severe the crash is, you need to stay at the scene of the incident. Get to a safe location and call 911. Let the police come to the scene so they can fill out an accident report. If you have the Crash Genius app, available for free for your smartphone, then you will be guided through every step you need to take. In fact, Crash Genius is able to detect a crash and will make sure you are okay.
Seek medical assistance
You need to seek assistance from a medical professional after any car accident in Loveland, CO. Even if you do not think your injuries are severe, let a doctor make that determination. In many cases, car accident injuries do not become apparent until hours or days after the incident occurs.
Collect any evidence
If you are able to safely do so at the scene, use your smartphone or another camera to take photographs of damages to any vehicles, possible causes of the crash, traffic and weather conditions, any injuries, and more. Make sure to get the name, driver’s license number, and insurance information of other drivers involved. If there were any eyewitnesses to the crash, get their names and contact information as well.
Be careful when speaking to insurance carriers
You need to report the incident to your insurance carrier as soon as possible, but be wary of how much you tell any insurance claims adjuster. Please know that insurance companies do not want to pay large settlements, even if you were not at-fault for the incident. Do not go into detail about how an accident occurred or your injuries with an insurance claim adjuster.
Be wary of initial settlement offers
An insurance carrier may offer a quick settlement for your claim, but please understand that the amount is likely well below what you should be receiving for your case. It can be attempting to take initial settlement offers, but you may not yet know the full extent of your injuries or total costs. As soon as you take a settlement, you lose the ability to go back at a later date to obtain more compensation.
Speak to an attorney about your case
If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident caused by the negligent actions of another driver, you should speak to an attorney for a free consultation of your case. By involving an attorney early in your car accident claims process, you are gaining an advocate with the resources necessary to investigate your claim and properly pursue maximum compensation. The qualified and experienced team at Cannon Law is ready to help. When you need a Loveland car accident attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or calling 970-471-7170.