Tips On Documenting Personal Injury Expenses
Car accidents can be very traumatic experiences. Among the many ways a crash can affect your life are the injuries you may sustain in the accident.
Medical bills related to your injuries can be costly. Knowing how car insurance can help cover these costs can go a long way in saving your from having to pay high medical bills yourself.
We'll review tips on thoroughly documenting your injuries and making sure you get adequate compensation from your car insurance company.
Documentation for Personal Injury Car Insurance Claims
In order to help ensure that your car insurance claim goes through, you need to provide as much relevant documentation possible to your insurer to help facilitate a smooth and quick accident investigation process.
If you are injured in a car accident, try to provide the following documentation:
- Photographs. Pictures are one of the best ways to document your accident and your injuries related to the accident. If possible, include photos of:
- Your car's damage.
- Make sure to take close-up and long distance shots.
- The accident location.
- Try to include stop signs and traffic lights, if applicable.
- Your injuries.
- Recent photos of yourself taken before the injuries occurred.
- Your car's damage.
- A journal about your injuries, symptoms, and medical attention.
- Be precise about everything, including the daily extent of your pain. Even the smallest details can be significant information.
- Any form of correspondence with every involved medical professional who provides you care.
- Medical-related receipts. Receipts are necessary pieces of information and will help you get the appropriate compensation. Provide receipts for:
- Prescriptions.
- Special equipment (crutches, walkers, canes).
- Special foods.
- Co-payments.
- Records of travel expenses for medical appointments.
- Precise documentation on how much income you've lost due to your injuries.
NOTE: Always remember, if you are involved in an accident, your health and safety comes before anything else, including your car insurance claim. If you, or anyone else has been seriously hurt in a car crash, get emergency assistance immediately.
Other Tips for Personal Injury Accident Claims
When you're dealing with a car insurance claim, be smart.
Avoid Settling Too Early
Overeagerness to settle can cost you in the long run. The claims adjuster you'll be dealing with will want immediate resolution, but this might not always be the best course of action for you. Consider that you may continue to need necessary treatment for your injuries in the future.
If your claim has already been settled, you may not be able to get reimbursement for your future treatments.
Before agreeing to a personal injury settlement, it is a good idea to make sure you are fully healed and are experiencing no lingering pain or impairment.
Consider a Personal Injury Attorney
If you are overwhelmed by the entire process of a claim, think about hiring a personal injury lawyer to represent you.
Attorneys understand the laws and the personal injury claims process and can use their experience to get the best outcome for your claim. A good lawyer can even help you further when it comes to documenting personal injury expenses. This way you can focus on healing, rather than negotiating.