DOCUMENTS YOU SHOULD SHOW A CAR ACCIDENT LAWYER
An experienced Atlanta car accident attorney knows how to fight for you after an accident, but you can play a part in making sure your claim has the best possible chance of success. You can count on a car accident attorney to notify you of the compensation you can claim. However, the best way to make sure you get what you are owed is to keep track of key information and documents yourself.
Here is what you should bring to a consultation with an Atlanta car accident attorney in order to support your claim:
- Insurance information: It’s crucial to review what recovery your insurance company will allow you after a car accident, and having a qualified Atlanta car accident attorney review your insurance information is the best way to know. Your insurance coverage may not be able to take care of all of your needs. In addition, some insurance providers have maximum payouts and strict deadlines for reporting accidents and injuries that you will need to comply with. Having an experienced car accident attorney in Atlanta go to bat for you against the insurance companies is always an asset. S/he will know how to handle tough negotiations, relieving you of the burden of having to defend yourself against a gigantic company that may try to short you of what you deserve.
- Insurance payments: Bring proof that you’ve been making monthly payments on your car insurance; you’ll need these bills to show that your policy is current and that you’re entitled to all of the benefits you’ve been paying for each month. Receipts, canceled checks or bank statements can all be used to prove you’ve been paying your car insurance premiums.
- Evidence collected from the scene: If you remembered to take pictures and notes at the scene of the car accident, these will come in handy now. Photographs are the best way to prove to both the insurance company and the courts the extent of the damage to both the interior and exterior of your vehicle, as well as to any personal items that may have been broken or damaged in the crash. You will also want to bring along any witnesses whose names and numbers you took down, so your car accident attorney can contact them for statements and an account of what happened. Don’t forget the other driver’s insurance and contact information. You should leave it to your car accident lawyer to contact the other driver rather than handling it on your own.
- Statements made to police: Hopefully, you remembered to get a copy of the police report or the officer’s name so you could request it at the station. If you don’t have a hard copy, don’t worry: an experienced car accident attorney will be able to track it down. The police report provides an account of how the car accident unfolded right after it happened, when everyone’s memory was still fresh. It can include important details about the speed the vehicles were traveling, the impact, the injuries and the location. If you were found at-fault in the police report, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you were. Officers can make mistakes. However, a competent Atlanta car accident attorney is your best bet for defending yourself against an accusation of fault, which may cost you a lot.
– Tickets issued after the accident: Let your attorney know if you were found in violation of a traffic rule or were given a citation after a car accident in Atlanta, and bring copies.
– Medical payments: From emergency room visits to appointments with your personal physician, keep track of any medical expense you had to pay for in the aftermath of a car accident in Atlanta. This can include billing for consultations, cost of prescription medications, cost of accessories such as casts, bandages or crutches, or visits to a therapist for treatment of emotional pain. These records are important for several reasons. For starters, they can give a picture of your likely future costs. Any medical attention that was required after an accident can be used to evaluate what your needs will be in the long term. Secondly, any notes about your condition or your symptoms recorded by your doctor can also help evaluate your total costs after you were injured in a car accident. If you don’t have this information, provide your car accident attorney with the name and contact information of your medical provider, and s/he can request them as long as you grant permission.