**Article was made possible by site supporter Amanda Green
Three Tips for Bouncing Back From a Car Accident
Experiencing a car accident is one of the most disruptive events we can go through. Not only will we find ourselves without a vehicle for an extended period, there may also be injuries to our families and ourselves. With so many things to deal with after an accident, it can be overwhelming to try to get control of things.
You must be prepared for the possibility of this experience, as unpleasant as it may be to think about. After all, you buy insurance against all kinds of potential risks without being too upset by it. Shouldn’t a very real risk like a car accident have a plan as well?
Here are three tips to help you construct a plan for dealing with this bad break if it ever happens to you.
1. Take the Right Steps at the Accident
From our earliest days on the road, we should know what to do in case of an accident. Unfortunately, many people fail to follow those important steps, and it ends up jeopardizing their ability to recover and to obtain a settlement later on.
No matter how minor the collision or how friendly the other driver, do what you know you are supposed to do. The other driver may get offended, but they should be smart enough to do the same thing you are doing–unless they know they’re responsible for the wreck. If everything works out as expected, you haven’t lost anything. If there does turn out to be a problem, you’re prepared for it.
2. Know Who Will Represent You
Time is of the essence when an accident happens, so don’t spend days wondering about whom you’ll choose as your legal representation. If the accident is ruled to be another driver’s fault, your lawyer will need to get to work right away on building your case.
Get acquainted with your local pool of attorneys. For example, if you live on the south side of Long Island, you’ll want to seek out the best Garden City law firms long before you need their services. Be sure you know how to contact them and what they can do above and beyond simply advocating for you in court. You need an attorney who will not only handle the judicial side effectively but will also advise you on how to take steps toward getting your life back to normal. Make sure you’re using a local firm whose personnel can visit you wherever you are as you or your family members recover.
3. Follow Through
Because a car accident can be such a miserable experience, many of us are happy just to get it behind us as quickly as we can. For that reason, we are often tempted to take a shortcut that brings things to a close rather than to a true resolution.
This goes for every part of the recovery process, including car repairs, medical treatment, and financial settlements. Rushing through any of those can leave you regretful later, and it would mean that your quick solution wasn’t a solution at all.
Get the car fixed correctly so that it doesn’t have problems later. Complete all the treatments and therapies recommended for you and your family by your medical team, including potential PTSD care. And don’t just accept the first offer an insurance company provides. Be sure you’re getting a complete picture of the cost and be prepared to fight for it.
A car accident can be frightening, painful, and expensive to go through. When it happens, we may struggle to get our thoughts in order and know what to do next. The only way to navigate these tough times successfully is to have things figured out in advance so that you don’t have to develop your plan after an accident, you only have to implement it. These three tips should help you build the core of that plan and get you better prepared.
