Business trips are already filled with enough stress as it is. It’s very important that they go well since there are so many opportunities that can arise from them. When you combine the potential of a business deal to close with being involved in a car accident, it becomes incredibly frustrating and stressful, even if you didn’t suffer serious physical consequences, let alone if you did.
Because we tend not to think as clearly in these kinds of situations, and it can be hard to think of what to do on the spot, so it’s important to learn about the 4 steps you need to take if you find yourself in a situation like this.
-
Contact A Lawyer
One of the most important things you can do is to contact a lawyer as soon as possible. The attorneys at Foyle Legal note that this is especially important if there were any injuries sustained in the car accident, as they will be able to help you work through the legalities and make sure that you are taken care of. Trying to handle this on your own can be incredibly difficult, and since they have a lot of experience in legal matters, they will be able to help you through the process.
While you should be able to contact your insurance company without having to worry about what’s going to happen, the truth is, a lot of them will try and pressure you into making a quick deal, oftentimes one that benefits them more than it does for you.
They also won’t fight for your rights as much as an experienced lawyer would be able to do. So this is why even if you think the accident wasn’t serious enough to warrant contacting some type of legal representative, it’s still very important that you contact one.
Experienced lawyers understand that being in such a situation means that you’re likely to incur a lot of expenses – from medical bills to repairing the car damages, and even lost wages. That’s why they won’t charge you for the initial conversation, and most won’t even take payment unless they win the case for you, so there’s really nothing you can lose from contacting the right lawyer, and you stand to gain a lot of information from them.
-
Get The Treatment You Need
Even if there were no obvious injuries you suffered from the accident, it’s always important to seek medical assistance. Certain conditions like a concussion might not be immediately apparent, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
More than that, it wouldn’t be surprising if you were in a state of shock after the accident, which means your body will be full of adrenaline, making it harder for you to really assess how you feel. In many cases, victims of a car accident only realize how badly they were actually hurt when the adrenaline rush dissipates, so it’s always important to seek medical help after an accident.
This is especially important if you were driving for work purposes, as many companies have insurance that will cover any costs related to seeking medical help. From a legal perspective, on the other hand, even if you might not feel that you’re hurt from the event, the other party will often seek compensation for any medical bills they have to pay because of the accident – even if it was their fault.
By going to the doctors and getting checked out, you can help prove that you weren’t the negligent driver, which can be significant if the other driver decides to sue
-
Contact Your Employer
Once you take care of your health and contact a lawyer, it’s important to call your employer as well. By letting your boss know what happened, you can not only explain why you might be missing the meeting, which is an important thing to do when it comes to your job, but you can also let them know that they need to send someone else. If you’re able, make sure to send the paperwork they might need to carry the meeting without you.
That way, you won’t risk losing a big client because you couldn’t make the meeting, and your boss can start to work on finding someone to take over for you until you get better. Remembering to call in after a stressful situation like an accident really shows a level of professionalism on your part, and your employer will surely appreciate it, even if they don’t say anything.
-
File A Claim
The final step, and probably the most important one, is to file a claim with your insurance company or even take the negligent driver to court. This needs to be done as soon as possible, as there might be a time limit on when you can file.
The time you have to file a claim or sue may vary depending on the country – usually, it’s anywhere from 6 months to two years. That said, oftentimes, the sooner you file, the sooner the insurance company will start to process everything – which is especially important if you were injured and have medical bills to pay.
However, it’s recognised that the experience can be traumatic, especially if a loved one died in the accident. This is why the time you have can be up to two years, as many are unable to face a legal battle whilst in mourning. That said, you can head to a site like https://www.warforindy.com/indianapolis-wrongful-death-lawyer sooner than the two years you are given if you feel able to. Often, people feel a sense of closure after winning a legal battle, so the sooner you can hire a suitable wrongful death lawyer the better.
By filing a claim, you’re not only protecting your own interests, but you’re also making sure that the other driver is held responsible for their actions.
While there’s really no going around the amount of stress you’re going to experience after an accident, by following these 4 simple steps, you can make sure that you’re doing everything you can to protect your rights and get the compensation you deserve, while still remaining professional and taking care of the business side of things.
