When assigning financial responsibility for car accidents, Mississippi takes a fault-based approach. That means those who are to blame for crashes can usually be held accountable for the damages that result.
Before you can secure compensation for your losses, however, you must put together a compelling claim. Naturally, the steps you take—or fail to take—in the wake of the wreck will have a major impact on the outcome of said claim.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the most important things you should do following a car accident:
1. Visit a Doctor
If you’re not transported to a hospital via ambulance immediately following the crash, make sure to seek medical care on your own as soon as possible. Even if you don’t think you sustained any life-threatening injuries, you may need prompt treatment. Adrenaline can mask all kinds of symptoms, so it’s wise to visit a doctor right away, regardless of how you feel.
Getting medical attention in a timely manner will also bolster your credibility during the claims process. It will show the opposing party that you were committed to mitigating damages from day one.
2. Save Evidence from the Scene
If you were able to gather any potential evidence before leaving the scene of the crash, store it in a safe place. This might include statements from eyewitnesses and photos or videos of the wreckage.
3. Adjust Your Social Media Habits
Sustaining unanticipated injuries is incredibly stressful. Before you turn to social media for support, however, you should consider what might happen if the insurance adjuster were to come across your posts.
Since they might be inclined to spin what you say and use it to challenge various aspects of your claim, it’s best to lay low online—and enable stricter privacy settings—until your claim has been resolved.
4. Document the Associated Damages
You can seek compensation for virtually all the losses you incur as a result of the crash—if you can prove you incurred them. As such, it’s important to save any documentation the corresponds to the expenses you wouldn’t have incurred had you not gotten hurt.
As for logging non-economic damages, start writing in a daily journal. Record the ways in which your life has changed since the accident and the kinds of hurdles you now face as a result of your condition.
5. Refuse to Speak on Record
At some point, the insurance adjuster will probably ask for a statement. Since everything you say on record will be scrutinized—and may open the door for a dispute down the road—it’s advisable to refrain from giving one. If they’re especially persistent, you can refer them to your legal team, so you don’t have to correspond with them at all.
Speak with a Jackson Car Accident Attorney
If you’re thinking about filing a car accident claim in Mississippi, reach out to the devoted team at Brown Bass & Jeter, PLLC. We have helped more than 500 families secure the funds needed to make their lives whole again in the wake of tragedy. To schedule a free initial consultation with a car accident lawyer in Jackson, submit the Contact Form on our website or call 601-487-8448.
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