When a car accident causes significant injuries as well as damage to your vehicle, the expenses quickly pile up and may feel overwhelming. Fortunately, an experienced Lake Stevens car accident lawyer is your best ally in helping you recover your damages from the at-fault party. But first, what can you do to maximize your car accident settlement?
Under the standards of Washington’s pure comparative negligence system listed in RCW 4.22.005, the law requires the injury victim to prove the at-fault party or parties’ full liability for damages to recover the maximum compensation available.
What Can I Do at the Accident Scene to Maximize My Car Accident Settlement?
Proving the at-fault party’s liability can begin during the aftermath of the accident if you aren’t incapacitated or experiencing life-threatening injuries. If you or an uninjured companion can use a cell phone, take the following steps to begin protecting your physical and financial future:
- First, call 911 to report the accident and request emergency services
- Then, use your cell phone to take photos of the damaged vehicles
- Photograph anything relevant to the accident, including the accident scene, traffic signs, and skid marks
- Add the contact information of the other driver or drivers
- Add the contact information of any eyewitnesses to the accident
- Record what you remember about the accident and the moments leading up to it (trauma often blurs the details later)
- Go directly to the hospital from the accident scene, either in an ambulance for serious injuries or by arranging a ride from the scene
At the hospital, ask for a full medical evaluation in addition to your emergency treatment for presenting injuries. This helps to diagnose injuries with delayed symptoms, such as internal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and whiplash. Ask the doctor for a detailed medical report with every injury listed, as well as the doctor’s recommendation for treatment and your prognosis.
Finally, hire a car accident lawyer. Most reputable car accident law firms in Washington do not charge upfront fees, so you’ll pay nothing until after your attorney recovers compensation for you.
How to Take Action In the Days After the Crash to Increase a Car Accident Settlement In Washington
After the accident, obtain a copy of your Washington car accident report, your medical report, and your physician’s notes from your emergency treatment. Then, do the following:
- Report the accident to your insurance company within the time limit specified in your contract
- Refer all communication with the defendant and their insurance company to your attorney
- Keep copies of all medical bills and out-of-pocket expenses
- Ask your employer for a statement about your missed work days and how your injury impacts your ability to perform job tasks
- Gather your last three years of tax forms and your recent direct deposit information or pay stubs to show your standard income before the injury
- Avoid posting about the accident on social media or talking to the insurance company on a recorded line
A skilled car accident lawyer in Washington carefully calculates your economic damages, like medical expenses and lost wages, and then uses the total of your damages, together with medical expert testimony about the impacts of your injury, to arrive at a total for non-economic damages like pain, suffering, and catastrophic injury.