What to Expect After a Car Accident

Experiencing a car wreck can be overwhelming and disorienting. However, knowing what to expect after a car accident and taking the best steps afterward can help protect your rights and ensure a smoother recovery process. Here’s some information on what to expect after a car accident and the essential steps you need to take.

For guidance regarding your specific situation, consult a car accident lawyer in Altoona as soon as possible.

Your Doctor Will Recommend a Treatment Plan

About 43 percent of car wrecks result in injuries. If you’ve suffered an injury, following the doctor’s treatment plan is crucial for your recovery and building a solid case if you decide to pursue legal action. Here’s why:

Ensuring Your Health and Well-being

Following your doctor’s treatment plan is essential for your physical recovery. Medical professionals prescribe specific treatments, medications, and rehabilitation exercises tailored to your injuries. Following the plan gives you the best chance of healing correctly and minimizing long-term complications.

Documenting Your Injuries

Following the treatment plan provides a clear record of your injuries and the steps taken to address them. This documentation is crucial evidence if you decide to file a personal injury claim. It demonstrates the severity of your injuries, the extent of medical care required, and the impact on your daily life.

Establishing Causation

Sticking with the treatment plan also helps establish a direct link between the car accident and your injuries. Insurance companies and opposing parties may dispute your claim if they believe your injuries were pre-existing or unrelated to the accident. Following the prescribed treatments demonstrates that your injuries resulted from the accident, not from any other source.

Maximizing Compensation

Following the doctor’s treatment plan demonstrates to insurance companies and juries that you take your injuries seriously. This can strengthen your case for compensation, as it shows that you are actively working to recover and minimize the accident’s impact on your life. It also allows for a more accurate calculation of damages, including medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering.

Avoiding Legal Pitfalls

Failure to follow the doctor’s treatment plan can potentially harm your legal case. Insurance companies may argue that your failure to follow prescribed treatments worsened your injuries or prolonged your recovery unnecessarily. This can lead to a reduction in your compensation or even a dismissal of your claim.

You’ll Need to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer

In addition to following the doctor’s treatment plan, it’s essential to consider hiring an attorney to help navigate your case’s complexities. An attorney can help in many ways, including the following:

Evaluating Your Case

Your car accident lawyer will review the accident details, assess the strength of your claim, and advise you on the best course of action. They can help determine liability, identify potential compensation sources, and estimate your case’s value.

Negotiating with Insurance Companies

Dealing with insurance companies can be challenging, especially when they try to minimize your claim or completely deny it. Your car accident attorney will handle all communications with insurance adjusters, negotiate for a fair settlement on your behalf, and protect your rights throughout the process.

Investigating the Accident

You can’t prove you deserve compensation without producing hard evidence. Your lawyer will investigate to collect that evidence, analyzing the accident’s circumstances to determine liability. Your attorney can build a strong case to support your compensation claim by establishing fault.

Litigating Your Case

Only about four percent of personal injury cases go to trial. But your attorney will be ready if the insurance company won’t offer a fair settlement. They’ll fight for your rights, present evidence, cross-examine witnesses, and argue your case effectively.

Why You Need to Speak with a Car Accident Attorney Quickly

Speaking with an attorney quickly after a car accident is crucial for several reasons. First and foremost, an attorney can help protect your rights and ensure that you take the necessary steps to preserve evidence and build a strong case.

Additionally, there are strict deadlines for filing personal injury claims, known as statutes of limitations, which vary by state (Pennsylvania’s is two years in most instances). Missing the deadline can result in losing your right to seek compensation for your injuries. By consulting with an attorney early on, you can avoid potential pitfalls and ensure your case proceeds smoothly.

The Investigation

The biggest reason you need to take fast action is your attorney needs to investigate the car accident before key evidence disappears. Investigating a car wreck to determine liability involves several key steps:

• Gathering evidence: The first step in investigating a car wreck is gathering evidence. This may include photographs of the accident scene, witness statements, police reports, and medical records. Your lawyer will carefully review this evidence to determine who was at fault for the accident.
• Analyzing the facts: Once your attorney has collected the evidence, they’ll analyze the facts of the case to determine liability. This may involve reconstructing the accident, consulting with accident reconstruction experts, and reviewing relevant laws and regulations.
• Identifying negligence: In many car accident cases, liability is based on negligence or the failure to exercise reasonable care. An attorney will identify any negligent actions contributing to the accident, such as speeding, distracted driving, or failure to yield the right of way.
• Establishing causation: It’s not enough to show that the other party was negligent; you must also prove their negligence caused the accident and your injuries. Your lawyer will gather evidence to establish causation, demonstrating how the other party’s actions directly led to the harm you suffered.
• Determining damages: Finally, an attorney will assess the damages resulting from the accident, including medical expenses, lost income, property damage, and pain and suffering. They’ll use this information to calculate the compensation you’re entitled to seek in your personal injury claim.

A Skilled Car Accident Lawyer is Waiting to Hear from You

Knowing what to expect after a car accident and taking the proper steps can help protect your rights and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. By speaking with an attorney quickly, you can increase your chances of securing a favorable outcome and moving forward with your recovery.

If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a car accident in State College, the personal injury attorneys at Marcus & Mack can help you navigate the legal process and seek the compensation you deserve. Contact us today at (814) 238-3480 or through our online form for a free, no-obligation consultation.

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