What Documents Do I Need for My Car Accident Claim?
After sustaining injuries in a car accident that wasn’t your fault in South Carolina, it is important to keep track of several documents so that you can submit them to the insurance company of the driver who is liable for the crash. If you are missing any of these items, resolving your claim may be more difficult and might take longer as well.
Fortunately, having a Myrtle Beach car accident lawyer
on your side is a great way of ensuring that you can gather and submit all the documents you need. These will include:
Witness Statements
It is important to gather copies of any witness statements that you or the police took in the immediate aftermath of the crash. These statements may be in written form, such as in a written statement or a police report, or in the form of recordings, such as on a police officer’s dashcam. The latter should be obtainable via a Freedom of Information Act request.
Police Report
If police officers responded to your automobile accident, they will have made an incident report. The report will contain information about the collision, including the date and time when it occurred, the road and weather conditions, and information about any witnesses. The report should also contain a visual diagram of the accident.
Photographs of the Accident
Photos can be an important way of providing insurance representatives with visual evidence of the accident. While it is common for multiple people to take pictures at the scene of the accident, we recommend that you take your own photos as a means of protecting yourself.
Medical Records and Bills
Your medical records will have detailed information about the cause and extent of your injuries, as well as about any treatment that you had because of them. It can sometimes be costly to obtain these records, but they are necessary. Insurance companies will sometimes refuse to thoroughly evaluate your case without them.
The medical bills associated with your injuries will reflect the impact of the accident on your personal finances. Be sure to maintain a list of all your medical providers, as well as the receipts and invoices for your treatment so that insurance companies or courts can assess the correct amount of compensation for your injuries.
Tickets Associated with the Accident
If the party at fault contests their traffic ticket, you may want to attend the trial so that you can help prevent the dismissal of their ticket. If the at-fault motorist says anything that could be conceived as an admission of guilt, such statements could be used against them in your claim for fair compensation.
Work Schedules
If your car accident injuries caused you to miss work, make sure that you maintain a detailed schedule of the time you were not working as well as a record of your lost wages.
Medicaid or Medicare Card
If Medicaid or Medicare has paid medical bills relating to your injury, they may have a lien on your settlement (see 42 U.S.C. §1395y(b)(2) and § 1862(b)(2)(A)/Section and § 1862(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Social Security Act). Determining whether they do have a lien and in what amount is often a protracted and challenging process. However, this is something that an experienced car accident lawyer can do on your behalf.
Your Car Insurance Policy
According to the South Carolina Department of Insurance, auto insurance is required by law for all drivers in the state. The policy must include liability insurance for bodily injury and liability insurance for property damage. You also need uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, which protects you in the event that you are involved in a collision with someone whose insurance cannot cover the costs related to the incident. Your lawyer will need to review a copy of your car insurance policy. This will allow them to understand what type of coverage you have, how much the coverage is worth, and any exclusions that may apply.
Contact a Myrtle Beach Car Accident Attorney Today
If you have been injured in a car accident and are considering filing a claim against the responsible party, it is important to have an experienced personal injury attorney on your side from the beginning of the process. It is likely that the at-fault driver’s insurance adjuster will attempt to call you and offer a quick and easy settlement that is worth far less than what you deserve. Inform them that you are not prepared to talk with them without first speaking to your lawyer.
The seasoned and knowledgeable South Carolina car accident attorneys of Law Office of William J. Luse, Inc. Accident & Injury Lawyers will fight for your best interests and help you ensure that you have all the appropriate documentation needed to make your claim as strong as possible. Contact us today at (843) 839-4795 for a free consultation.