As if the forecast for 2020 couldn’t get any worse, the snow is almost here. While the snowy scene outside your window can be beautiful to look at, it can be a menace to even the most mundane travel plans. Snow and ice can lead to car accidents and injuries. Do you know what to do if you find yourself injured in an accident? Take some quick advice from Dr. Fast . . .
- Call the at fault auto insurance – This first step accomplishes two very important steps in starting your claims process. First, it helps establish a claim from the at-fault insurance company. From there, you’ll be assigned to an adjuster which will manage your claim, and you should be given a direct phone number for any future communication regarding the claim. They will also help arrange for an estimate of the damage to your car. Second, the at-fault insurance company will want to know if there are any injured parties and the nature of the injuries. It is best recommended to let them know that you are seeking a consult and an exam from a doctor. Auto collision injuries are unique and sometimes are not fully expressed until much later than expected, so it is important to just let them know you are seeking help.
- Seek a qualified auto injury doctor – General family practice doctors are usually not the correct type of doctor to seek. This is like going to a podiatrist for a wrist injury. Chiropractors like Dr. Rob Fast, are a great choice as they often specialize in auto collision injury treatment and management. These chiropractors are usually networked with other auto injury specialists, such as orthopedists, radiologists, neurologists, and such.
- Call your auto insurance – If you are like most people, you don’t want to get your auto insurance involved, since it was someone else’s fault. This is understandable as nobody wants to pay higher premiums due to someone’s negligence. If the at-fault is uninsured or under-insured, you can make a UM/UIM claim on your policy. This part gets a little tricky and you’ll need the legal help of a personal injury firm.
- Arrange a second estimate – This is important as an estimate from the at-fault is usually much lower than an independent estimate. Low estimates will affect your settlement in a negative manner.
- Seek legal help – Dealing with injuries, let alone the legal aspects of your situation can be quite confusing. Medical professionals like Lori at the Back Pain Clinic Belleville are used to working with insurance companies and attorneys to get the right information out quickly.
Let the road ahead lead you to a safe and healthy 2021!