Q&A: I have been hurt in a car wreck. What should I do?
I’ve been hurt in a car wreck. What should I do? If you’ve been hurt as a result of someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to financial compensation from that person and/or that person’s insurance company. That process can be complicated, so you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney who can assist you with the process. You should also immediately gather as much information about your accident and injury as you can, including pictures of vehicles involved and the scene of your injury; a copy of your vehicle’s repair estimate; a copy of the accident report; information about the person who caused the accident and his insurance company; your medical records and bills; work excuse slips; and anything else that might help the attorney. Some insurance companies have recently begun trying to convince injured people that they do not need attorneys and that the insurance company will assist them with their claims. In most cases this is simply not true and is merely an attempt by the insurance company to settle your claim for less than its full value. In fact, many states are now prohibiting insurance companies from telling injured people that they do not need attorneys, and several states have even punished insurance companies for continuing to do so.