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Knowledgeable Guidance When You Need It Most

What should I do after a car accident?

In the moments following an accident, take the following steps:

  • Call the police and seek medical attention: When an accident results in injuries or property damage, you must involve law enforcement officials.
  • Take pictures of the accident scene: If possible, document the extent of your injuries and the damage to your vehicle.
  • Exchange contact information with the other driver: Exchange basic information, including names, addresses and insurance details.
  • Get contact information from witnesses: Speak with any eyewitnesses to gather their accounts and basic contact details.

Once you take these immediate steps, consider calling an attorney prior to calling your insurance company. Doing this can help you avoid giving a statement that could harm your claim.

Should I accept a car accident insurance settlement offer?

The answer to this depends on the circumstances, but in most cases, you need to be careful about saying yes to a settlement offer. If the insurers are calling you immediately after an accident, you need to be very careful about anything that you say or do.

You need to know what your expenses connected to the accident will be, and you need to know what other compensation may be available to you under Illinois law. You should always talk to an experienced car accident lawyer before you make any decisions about accepting a settlement offer. You want to be sure that the compensation you receive is what you need to move forward after the accident.

What if the other driver did not have insurance?

You most likely have uninsured motorist coverage under your insurance policy. However, even though this means that your own insurer is responsible for compensating you after a crash, this doesn’t mean the process will be easy. Although you are their customer, their main concern is their bottom line. We can help you deal with your insurer regarding recovering compensation.

Do I need an attorney to handle my car accident case?

Yes. Think about it this way: The insurance companies know what you don’t know, and they are going to use that information against you. The moment they hear of the accident, they already have a rough idea of what their financial obligation is in the crash. They will do what they can to protect their bottom line and make an offer that is less than your case is worth, hoping that you settle before you know what options are available to you.

Every day, these companies handle thousands of accident claims. They have lawyers preparing for whatever might happen with your claim, and you should have someone on your side to look out for your interests.

Get Your Questions Answered By A Lawyer

Attorney Martin Haxel has more than 30 years of experience in car accident cases. Before representing plaintiffs in these cases, Martin worked on the insurance defense side. Talk to us to learn how we can use that to build you a strong claim for compensation. Call us in Springfield at 217-953-4826 or send us an email.