Hi, my name is Kirsten Krueger and two years ago, I was in a car accident. I was stopped at a stop sign when the driver behind me slammed into my car. Due to my injuries, I had to spend a few days in the hospital and I was unable to work for two months. My medical care was expensive and without being able to work, I couldn't pay my bills. The car accident was stressful enough and then I had to worry about how I would pay my bills. After speaking with a car accident lawyer, it wasn't long before I was compensated for my medical bills and lost wages from work. I'm writing this blog to help others who have been a car accident and haven't received any compensation. As you read my posts, you'll learn how an attorney can help you if you're in a vehicle accident.
About 1.3 million people die in car crashes every year, and if one of those people is someone you love, it is natural that you will grieve. You may also want to pursue legal action against the other person involved in the car accident. To do that successfully, use the following tips.
Know the Statute of Limitations
In your grief you may not want to do anything in the months following the death of your loved one. However, the longer you want to file a claim, the more likely it is that you might not be able to file a claim at all. Every state has a statute of limitations that you must respect when filing a claim for a wrongful death. Do some internet research to determine how much time you have in your particular state so that you don't wait too long.
Retain a Lawyer
You may think that filing a claim will launch an investigation by your loved one's insurance company or the insurance company of the other driver. However, to make sure that a proper investigation is undertaken, it may benefit you to retain the services of an attorney. Your loved one is not present to give their version of what happened, so your attorney must work to reconstruct the entire event so that they can prove that the other driver caused what happened.
Your attorney will be able to collect information from witnesses, police and emergency personnel on the scene to build a solid case that increases your chances of getting a fair settlement.
Avoid Talking to the Insurance Company
The other driver's insurance company may make attempts to contact you for a number of reasons. They may seek to find out information about your loved one or they may try to offer you a settlement amount to avoid further action.
Because you are in a state of grief, any settlement amount may sound reasonable, and you may accidentally provide information that could hurt your claim. Therefore, try to avoid contact with the other driver's insurance company. If you must talk to them, ensure that your lawyer is with you or on the phone line as well.
Now that you know some of the things to keep in mind when filing a claim after your loved one has died in a car accident, use the information above to make the right decisions. While you cannot get your loved one back, you can seek justice on their behalf. Contact a lawyer like Michael B. McCord today if you have questions.
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