Paperwork After An Accident: What To Know
Posted on: 18 February 2022
Some victims are overwhelmed with far too much happening all at once after an accident. Some of the chaos can come from the sheer volume of paperwork generated because of the accident. Some of it might be important and some of it might not be – it can be hard to tell. The below documents are key to your case if you were not at fault for the accident and ended up with injuries. Read below and take note of what you will probably encounter after an accident and what it means.
The Police Report
This report is usually completed at the scene and available immediately or soon after. This report will contain the contact information for all involved parties, along with their auto insurance policy information. The most important part of this information-rich document, though, is undoubtedly the officer's summary of how the accident occurred. Give this report to your personal injury lawyer so that they can get started on your case.
Medical Records
Most people don't have a copy of their medical records handy but that's okay. You will be signing a release so that your lawyer can access them for legal reasons. The records are used to prove you have accident-related injuries and more. You should also, though, set aside anything you do receive for later. Commonly, you might be provided with a hospital release document, instructions for caring for your injuries at home, explanations of benefits, and more. Medical documents are the most important sort of documents to retain.
Driving Records
Don't be surprised to find your driving record scrutinized after a wreck, even if it's obvious that you were not at fault. In the same way, your personal injury lawyer will obtain the other driver's record to check for previous accidents, tickets, criminal violations, and more.
Income Information
You will likely be out of work for at least a few days, weeks, or months if the injuries are serious enough. Unfortunately, many accident victims are never able to return to their job after an accident. To show that you missed work, obtain and pass along to your lawyer proof of income. That can be a paycheck stub or an income tax return. For those permanently injured, your lawyer will determine how much you are owed by taking factors like your former salary, age, education, level of disability, and more into consideration.
In addition to the above, set aside any correspondence from your insurer or the other driver's insurer. To find out more, speak to a company like Jeeves Law Group, P.A.
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