When our Las Vegas car accident attorneys meet with new clients, they have already been involved in a motor vehicle accident. By that time, they have already dealt with the immediate aftermath of their car crash. That doesn’t mean we can’t help them. It simply means we can’t change what they did in the minutes and hours after their accident. The reason this is so important is that the things you do right after your car wreck can make a huge difference later on.
It would be one thing if people learned how to deal with an accident. Unfortunately, this isn’t something they teach you when you get your driver’s license. We take our accident victims the way we find them. However, it is important that you understand what steps to take immediately after your Las Vegas car accident. This way, your Las Vegas auto accident attorney has all the tools they need to help get you the compensation you deserve.
Like It or Not, You Must Call 911 Immediately After Your Accident
Regardless of how serious your car crash is, you have to call 911 right away. Not only are you legally required to report the accident, but you’re also going to need a copy of the police report for your case.
When you call 911, an officer is going to come out to the scene. They’ll do a through investigation of the accident scene. They’ll also document their findings in their accident report. Some of the information that will be included in this report are:
- The name and insurance information for both drivers
- Pictures of the accident scene and damage to the vehicles
- A description of the road conditions
- Statements made by the drivers involved in the crash
- Name and contact details for any eyewitnesses
- Notes about any tickets that were issued at the accident scene
The reason your Las Vegas auto accident attorney needs this report is that they have no other way to get this information. They won’t be able to go back and get the eyewitnesses’ information. They won’t be able to prove the other driver was speeding or driving under the influence if there’s no ticket issued.
As much as you may not want to call the cops, you don’t have much of a choice. No matter how much the other driver asks you to just exchange information and walk away, don’t do it. You have no idea if they’re being honest with you. They could be driving a stolen truck and you’d have no idea. They may not even give you their real name and phone number. You don’t know them, and you can’t trust them. Not when there’s so much at stake.
You Must Go to the Emergency Room
One other problem a lot of our clients have is they don’t go to the hospital. They insist that they’re fine. Your personal injury lawyer in Las Vegas is going to need medical records proving you were hurt. They can’t do this if you refuse to go to the emergency room.
The other obvious reason you need to go to the hospital is to make sure you’re okay. You may feel fine in the moments after your car accident. However, you have no idea if you’ve suffered internal injuries. For example, you may have suffered a traumatic brain injury. It can take hours or even days to see the signs of this sort of injury. You may have internal bleeding or damage to one of your internal organs. Let a licensed doctor check you out and make sure you’re okay.
Get Your Insurance Claim Filed as Soon as Possible
One of the tricky things about filing your auto insurance claim is that every company is different. Some insurance companies give you a specific deadline for filing your claim. Others simply say you must file your claim in a reasonable time. It can be confusing. If you don’t know when you have to file your claim, it can be easy to miss the filing deadline.
The best thing you can do is call and talk to an experienced Las Vegas auto accident attorney. They can help you file your claim. They’ll make sure it’s filed on time. They’ll also make sure you don’t agree to some low settlement offered by the insurance adjuster.
The Next thing You Need to Do is Meet with a Seasoned Personal Injury Lawyer in Las Vegas
If you’re involved in a car accident in Nevada, you need to at least meet with a skilled Las Vegas auto accident attorney. This should be something you do either right before or right after you file your insurance claim. You have no idea if your claim is going to be approved. If it is, great – you’ll get your check in a week or two. However, if your claim is denied, you’re going to need to file an appeal. If you don’t do this perfectly, there’s no way your claim will be paid.
It’s in your best interest to have an attorney by your side throughout the claims process. This is the only way to make sure your claim is handled right. If you don’t have a lawyer, the insurance company may try to take advantage of you.
They could put your claim at the bottom of their pile and ignore your calls and emails. They may offer you a low settlement, hoping you’ll be desperate for cash and accept it. Neither of these things is fair. But this is how it works. The people who have a lawyer are taken more seriously than those that do not. This is why we suggest you hire a Las Vegas auto accident attorney sooner rather than later.
Schedule Your Free Consultation With a Seasoned Las Vegas Auto Accident Attorney
In the days following your accident, you should call our office and schedule your first meeting. Our Las Vegas auto accident attorneys let our potential clients come in for a free consultation. This gives them a chance to meet with one of our lawyers so they can ask any questions they may have. It also gives us a chance to review their case and see if we want to represent them.
All you have to do is call our office and set up a date and time that works for you. If you’re worried about the cost, don’t – it costs you nothing to hire our firm. You don’t pay anything until your case settles.