Proper Protocol For Victims Of A Huntsville Car Accident
A trauma is an experience that causes sudden shock of the body, mind, or spirit, and which creates major stress. Accidents are one of the most common causes of physical or mental trauma that someone can experience in their lifetime. When you are involved in a car accident, you probably aren’t immediately thinking about your legal rights or whether or not you need an attorney. Consulting with a Huntsville car accident attorney is one of the first steps to take after a car accident in order to make sure that your legal rights are upheld and that you receive fair compensation for any injuries and damages.
What Steps Should I Take If I’ve Been Involved In An Auto Accident?
Seek Medical Attention
Often, injuries caused by motor vehicle accidents are not immediately apparent. Most of our clients report feeling the most pain a day or two following an automobile accident. Unless you are absolutely certain you were not injured, you should seek medical attention at your local emergency room or by seeing your family physician. Even in accidents involving minor impact, you can sustain a serious and permanent injury to your spinal cord. If you lost consciousness or were dazed for even a short period of time following the collision, you may have suffered a concussion or closed head injury. This can cause cognitive and behavioral changes if left untreated.
Report The Accident
Notify your insurance company as soon as possible. Many policies require immediate reporting and full cooperation. Find out if you have medical benefits as part of your insurance coverage. You pay extra for that type of coverage – known as “med pay” – so you should use it. In fact, if you have med pay coverage, you are required to submit your accident-related medical bills to your insurance company. Med pay coverage is primary for accident-related medical bills. Once med pay benefits are exhausted, private health insurance becomes your primary insurer. Med pay benefits are available to all the occupants of the vehicle. Your insurance rates should not increase as a result of submitting claims for med pay coverage.
Hire An Attorney
If anyone was injured in an accident, it’s best to consult an experienced attorney. An attorney can help you maximize your recovery if you’re injured or better defend yourself if you’re at fault. Many accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means that your lawyer only receives a fee if you’re awarded damages or receive a settlement.
There are many ways to help a client achieve a positive outcome in his or her case. Occasionally, direct negotiations with the other side can result in a favorable resolution. In other cases, we may have to prepare to take a case to trial before the other side agrees to a fair settlement. Sometimes, however, the best and only option is to go to court and present a case to a jury. In these situations, people throughout Alabama and across the region have turned to the experienced Huntsville attorneys of Hornsby, Watson, Hornsby & Heyward. We are effective in every type of litigation strategy, but we take special pride in our ability to present a client’s side of the story in a courtroom and convince a jury to rule in our favor. Visit our website for information: https://www.hornsbywatson.com.
Hornsby, Watson, Hornsby & Heyward
1110 Gleneagles Dr SW
Huntsville, AL 35801
(256) 650-5500