A car accident can end up costing you a lot of money, beyond the cost of repairing the car. After you’ve paid out insurance premiums, or have ended up losing some earnings due to being injured, the costs can soon mount up. Spiraling costs are the last thing you need after the distress of being in a car accident. Here’s how to protect your finances.
Get The Other Driver’s Information
Whether you or the other driver was at fault, you need to get the other person’s details. You will need to exchange information including names, insurance companies, insurance policy numbers, the type of vehicle you were both driving and the license plate numbers. This information will be useful to both insurance companies. The more details you can give, the easier it will be to sort out the insurance.
Take Pictures
To help with your insurance claim, it’s a good idea to take pictures. When the time comes to report the accident, it can be hard to remember everything that happened, especially after a shock. Having pictures to look at will help to jog your memory and show a clearer idea of what happened. Your pictures should include any damage to either car and any damage or marks on the road or any roadside furniture. Photograph the road conditions too, especially if the road was wet or slippery.
Speak To An Attorney
Legal advice can be very helpful after a crash. Speak to a car accident lawyer to get advice and help to negotiate a settlement with the insurance company if the other driver was the one at fault.
To get your settlement, you may need to go to court. If this happens, an attorney is essential to present your case. An insurance company will put up a serious fight to get out of having to pay, so get a lawyer to help you. If you were the one at fault, they can still be useful, so take advice.
Check Your Insurance
Speak to your insurance company as soon as you can to make sure you’re covered. Check you’ll be covered for any repairs. Find out if your policy will pay for any time off from work, whether because you’ve been injured or don’t have access to your car. Double-check that you can claim the full amount. A good insurance policy should cover for lost wages, injury, loss of transportation, and for the damage to the car.
Ask For Paid Time Off
A car accident is very stressful and you will likely need some time to recover. If you’ve been hurt, you may be unable to work. Talk to your boss and try to arrange some paid time off to give you time to recover. They might let you use some sick days, and still get paid.
It can help to have a letter from a doctor that explains your injuries to give to your boss. You might qualify for paid medical leave if you’re in full-time employment and are unable to work due to injuries.
