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What
should I do if I am involved in a car accident?
Who pays if I incur an injury due to
an auto accident or my car is damaged?
What should I do if I did not feel
hurt at the scene but experienced pain afterwards?
My insurance company is offering me
a nice settlement. Should I take it?
What issues will I face in making a
claim for my injuries sustained in an auto
accident?
How will I pay for my medical bills?
My doctor notified me that I have a
permanent injury as a result of my auto accident.
What does this mean?
Am I at fault if I rear-end another
vehicle?
What
should I do if I am involved in a car accident?
First, you should seek proper medical attention.
If you are conscious at the scene, collect all
pertinent information from the other drivers (i.e.
driver's license numbers, address, phone number,
insurance card information, etc.). Also, make sure
to keep a daily journal, beginning with the date
of the accident, to document all physical and
mental injuries, as well as document your view of
the accident. Finally,
contact
an attorney at The Law Office of Paul Hogan who
will be your advocate if a traffic charge is
brought against you, or even a civil suit. An
attorney can also assist you in bringing a civil
suit against another party if they are responsible
for the accident.
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Who
pays if I incur an injury due to an auto accident
or my car is damaged?
If you are to blame for an accident, your
liability insurance will pay the other driver for
property damage and personal injuries up to your
policy's limits. If you are not at fault, the
other driver's liability insurance pays for your
car damage and personal injuries.
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What
should I do if I did not feel hurt at the scene
but experienced pain afterwards?
You should immediately consult your medical
provider regarding any pain, discomfort or
possible injuries from a car accident, even if you
think they may be only minor injuries. If you were
injured in the accident from someone else's
negligence, you may be entitled to payment of your
medical bills, compensation for pain and
suffering, lost wages, loss of earnings capacity,
and emotional distress.
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My
insurance company is offering me a nice
settlement. Should I take it?
No. Tell
the insurance company that you will get back to
them. In the meantime, contact an attorney at The
Law Office of Paul Hogan immediately. Often an
insurance company will offer a minimal amount of
money in return for your signature stating that
you will not sue them. Never take an insurance
check without first consulting an attorney.
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What
issues will I face in making a claim for my
injuries sustained in an auto accident?
A claim for injuries is usually based upon
carelessness or negligence. In worse case
scenarios, it is based on an intentional or
reckless act. The three categories of issues that
typically arise in a tort claim after an
automobile accident are:
Liability
- who is at fault and to what degree.
Damages - injuries or losses that were caused by
the accident.
Insurance Coverage - what the insurance company
will pay for after an accident
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How
will I pay for my medical bills?
If you
have been injured, you will likely have medical
bills from physicians, hospitals, physical
therapists, and other health care providers. Those
bills will be in your name and will usually be
sent to your address. You are primarily
responsible for paying your bills, regardless of
the cause of your injuries. In Kansas, the law
requires what is called no fault insurance. So you
can get Immediate medical treatment for your
injuries, whether you have health insurance or
not. No fault law means that no matter who’s at
fault in the collision your own insurance company
will pay your medical bills up to at least $ 4,500
or more depending on your coverage amount. Then at
a later time your insurance company has the right
to claim reimbursement (the legal term is
subrogation) from your recovery or make the claim
from the party at fault or their insurance
carrier. The at-fault person's liability insurance
carrier is responsible for paying you reasonable
compensation for damages incurred, which includes
medical bills, but the insurance carrier is not
responsible for paying your doctors, hospitals,
and other providers. Sometimes the amount the
insurance company is willing to pay is far less
than the actual amount you owe. You need an
attorney who will fight for your rights with the
insurance companies to ensure that you are fully
compensated.
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My
doctor notified me that I have a permanent injury
as a result of my auto accident. What does this
mean?
A permanent injury is one that is going to either
be with you for the rest of your life or for some
period beyond the settlement of the claim. In most
cases, the injured party is entitled to
compensation from the at-fault party or their
insurance company for all medical bills incurred
to date and into the future for all injuries
caused by the accident.
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Am
I at fault if I rear-end another vehicle?
Almost
always, yes. The law states that you must maintain
a safe distance to be able to stop safely if a car
stops in front of you.
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