What You Need To Know About Seeking Damages After An Auto Accident

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Unfortunately, auto accidents happen daily, and when they occur, people get injured. Because of this, it's important to understand what rights you have immediately following a car accident that caused your injuries. This way, you can determine whether or not you want to speak to an auto accident attorney about filing a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver.

Filing an Insurance Claim

If you were injured as a result of a car wreck, you should report the incident to your car insurance company as soon as possible so that the company can begin working on your insurance claim. However, you don't want to accept any type of settlement offer until you know the extent of your injuries and what you need to do to recover. It's possible for auto accident injuries to develop over the days following the accident, so you don't want to accept a settlement right away. 

Once you have a settlement offer, allow your car accident attorney to review it to determine whether it's a fair offer. Your attorney will then advise you as to whether or not you should accept or decline the settlement. If you decide to decline the settlement, it doesn't automatically mean that you have to go to court. Many times, a fair settlement can be reached during negotiations between the insurance company and your attorney.

Know Your Rights

If you've been involved in an auto accident, knowing your rights helps to ensure that you don't do or say something that could negatively affect the outcome of a future lawsuit. You have the right to:

• Deny discussing the car accident or providing a statement to the other driver's insurance company.
• Decline to sign any documents before your lawyer has reviewed them.
• Seek damages for emotional, physical, and financial losses suffered as a result of the wreck.

Auto Accident Liability

Most people know that they can file a lawsuit to recover damages from the person who was responsible for the car accident. However, in certain circumstances, another party could be partially liable for the accident as well.

• The company that employs the at-fault driver could be held liable if the driver is driving a company-owned vehicle during the time of the accident.
• A car owner whose allowed an incompetent or unfit person to drive the vehicle that was involved in the accident. A few things that might be considered when trying to determine whether the driver was fit include whether the driver was licensed, sober, or have a reckless driving record.
• Parents of a minor child who was driving the vehicle.

No one wants to be involved in a car wreck, especially an accident that caused injuries, but it happens. If you've been injured in an accident, contact an auto accident attorney like those at the Knochel Law Offices for help reaching a fair settlement.

19 November 2015