Call 911
Obviously, it's best to first call 911 after an accident has occurred. Emergency operators are trained to determine exactly which first responders should be dispatched to your scene. Once any injured persons have been stabilized and the accident situation is secure, call your insurance company and report the accident.
Get Information
Don't allow any other involved drivers to leave the scene before you exchange required information. This should include driver's license numbers, all contact information and insurance policy details. If there are any witnesses available, get all of their contact information also. While any competent car accident attorney in Chicago can help discover this data later, it's much better to get it upfront.
Be Honest
Do be honest with your insurance company. Any dishonesty could cause a future claim to be denied because of fraud.
Don't Admit It
Never admit fault to anyone. It is the job of the police to investigate what has happened, and it's the job of your insurance company to ultimately place blame. You're paying your insurance company to represent you, so let them do their job.
Don't Be late
Insurance policies do include time limitations, and coverage can run out if a claim is not filed timely. If you do run into this problem, contact a car accident attorney in Chicago for help.
Don't Necessarily Believe What the Adjuster Tells You
One job of an insurance adjuster is to get your car fixed as cheaply as possible. Insurance companies are businesses, and any money they spend on your claim is money that subtracts from their bottom line. Your policy and the laws of Illinois give you specific rights. You may be able to choose your own repair shop and you should be allowed to get a number of estimates for repairs.
Insurance companies can be difficult to deal with. While TV commercials often represent them as customer friendly and caring , the opposite can be true, especially in the case of an adversary proceeding. Don't hesitate to call a Chicago Auto Accident Attorney for help.
Obviously, it's best to first call 911 after an accident has occurred. Emergency operators are trained to determine exactly which first responders should be dispatched to your scene. Once any injured persons have been stabilized and the accident situation is secure, call your insurance company and report the accident.
Get Information
Don't allow any other involved drivers to leave the scene before you exchange required information. This should include driver's license numbers, all contact information and insurance policy details. If there are any witnesses available, get all of their contact information also. While any competent car accident attorney in Chicago can help discover this data later, it's much better to get it upfront.
Be Honest
Do be honest with your insurance company. Any dishonesty could cause a future claim to be denied because of fraud.
Don't Admit It
Never admit fault to anyone. It is the job of the police to investigate what has happened, and it's the job of your insurance company to ultimately place blame. You're paying your insurance company to represent you, so let them do their job.
Don't Be late
Insurance policies do include time limitations, and coverage can run out if a claim is not filed timely. If you do run into this problem, contact a car accident attorney in Chicago for help.
Don't Necessarily Believe What the Adjuster Tells You
One job of an insurance adjuster is to get your car fixed as cheaply as possible. Insurance companies are businesses, and any money they spend on your claim is money that subtracts from their bottom line. Your policy and the laws of Illinois give you specific rights. You may be able to choose your own repair shop and you should be allowed to get a number of estimates for repairs.
Insurance companies can be difficult to deal with. While TV commercials often represent them as customer friendly and caring , the opposite can be true, especially in the case of an adversary proceeding. Don't hesitate to call a Chicago Auto Accident Attorney for help.
