WHAT SHOULD I DO IMMEDIATELY AFTER I’VE BEEN INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT?

Call the police and make sure an ambulance is sent as soon as possible. Make sure everyone involved in the accident is conscious and responsive. Stay at the scene even if the accident isn’t serious, the police should be called regardless and a police report should be filed. It is important when speaking to the police that you stick to the facts, do not speculate, and most importantly do not admit any fault. Make sure you take as many pictures as you can with your cell phone. Also, we suggest taking a picture of the other person’s license plate, their drivers license, and insurance information. The pictures should document any damage that is caused by both vehicles. Seek medical attention as soon as possible if injured, even if you do not feel any pain, you may be in a state of shock and could experience medical issues later on.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE A PERSONAL INJURY CASE REGARDING A CAR ACCIDENT?

If you are experiencing pain, injury, or financial damages as a result of someone else’s negligence. You may have a personal injury case. If the other driver was at fault or failed to follow the legal rules of the road – our car accident attorneys may be able to prove that the other party is liable for those damages. For example, if you were rear-ended in a car accident, typically the other driver is responsible for that accident and the insurance company could be liable for any damages.

WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT THE FIRST FEW DAYS FOLLOWING A CAR ACCIDENT?

Within the first few days, you will receive communications from both your insurance company and the other driver’s insurance company. You may be contacted by your health insurance company, doctors, and even attorneys. The other driver’s insurance company may request that you sign medical authorizations so they can retrieve your medical records. Before you speak to any of these people or sign any documents, it is important that you seek legal counsel.

HOW TO PAY FOR MEDICAL EXPENSES WHILE MY CASE IS PENDING?

You may have a difficult time paying for your medical expenses, even if you have health insurance. Make sure to bill any treatment as you normally would through your healthcare provider. Additionally, you may have medical payment coverage under your car insurance plan. This could be used to cover your co-pays and other medical expenses that your health insurance company may not cover initially.

WHAT TYPE OF COMPENSATION SHOULD I EXPECT TO RECEIVE FOR MY CAR ACCIDENT CASE?

This is a difficult question to answer because it depends on many factors. If we are successful in proving that the other party is liable for your injuries and damages, you could be compensated for medical bills and any other hospital costs, lost wages, costs of rehabilitation and physical therapy, disability or disfigurement, pain and suffering, wrongful death, including loss of financial support and any other out of pocket expense that was related to your accident.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO COMPLETE MY CASE?

Depending on the severity of your injuries and the length of time you need to heal from your injuries will determine the length of your claim. We also have to factor in the willingness of the other party to settle as they make their initial offer. If unreasonable offers are made, your claim may proceed to trial, which will increase the length of your claim.

WHAT ARE THE FEES FOR REPRESENTING ME IN A CAR ACCIDENT CASE?

At Kats, Jamison & Associates all personal injury accident cases are handled on a contingency-fee-basis. This means that we will never charge you upfront for any cost and we will advance all costs and expenses. You will not have to reimburse our Firm for any costs unless we are successful. You will pay absolutely nothing for lawyers’ fees unless we win a monetary sum in your case.

When to call an Attorney if you’ve been in a car accident

There are about 5.5 million car crashes in the USA each year (half of which result in an injury). And regardless of how careful and defensive you drive, there’s always a chance of being involved in an incident yourself because you cannot control the driving of other people.

If you’ve recently been in a car crash, you may be wondering if you need a car accident lawyer or how long you should wait before finding an attorney. The truth of the matter is this: if you’ve been injured or if the incident resulted in the filing of any insurance claims or the assignment of fault or responsibility, then it’s important that you speak to an attorney as soon as possible.

You’re not overreacting when you choose to speak to a lawyer after a car accident. You’re making the right choice to ensure that nothing gets lost or forgotten while the legal system processes your claim.

Court proceedings can be a long and frustrating process, but they are necessary in order for you to get the justice you deserve, especially if you’ve been involved in a car accident that wasn’t your fault and/or resulted in a personal injury. Simply resolving a filed insurance claim will require as many details as possible, regardless of whether the case goes to trial or not. Unfortunately, over time the details about what happened during your accident can become hazy.

Finding a lawyer quickly after a car crash will ensure that:

None of the evidence disappears. A lawyer will work with police, investigators, doctors, tow-truck companies and anyone else involved to ensure that all physical evidence is collected and dealt with properly. That way it is available when the time comes for a judge’s review; and

Witnesses don’t forget what they saw. An attorney will find, speak to and gather the statements of every witness to your accident, and will furthermore know exactly how to organize and document the testimonial dates, images, and other aspects in a way that a judge and jury would understand. It’s important to get these statements as early as possible since time can minimize the accuracy and details of an event.

(215) 396-9001 help@mkats.com

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The process begins while the facts are still fresh. You’ve only got a short window of time for legal action after being involved in a car accident. Waiting too long to consult with a lawyer after the date of a collision risks you’re losing crucial physical evidence and witness testimony. If you’ve recently been involved in a car accident in the Commonwealth of Philadelphia and need an injury attorney, don’t hesitate to reach out to a member of our team for a free consultation to find out what your next steps should be.