Being involved in a car accident is often overwhelming, but understanding what happens next can make the entire process more manageable. Knowing what to expect during the legal process of a car accident claim helps you avoid surprises, prevents critical mistakes, and puts you in a stronger position to protect your rights.
Contact a St. Louis car accident attorney from Drafahl Law Firm today online.
What to Expect and What Steps to Take in The First 24 to 72 Hours
The first 24 to 72 hours after a car accident are crucial for both your safety and the strength of your eventual injury claim. Taking the right steps now can help protect your health and avoid mistakes that might harm your case later.
Report the Crash
Contact the police at the scene and file an official accident report, even if the damage seems minor. This document becomes a fundamental record in an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. Make sure to exchange contact and insurance details with all involved drivers.
Get Medical Care and Consistent Follow-Up
Even if you don’t feel too injured (bruises, etc…), seek medical attention as soon as possible. If a doctor tells you to return for tests or treatment, make sure you follow through. If you don’t follow a doctor’s orders, it will appear that you aren’t injured.
Document Everything
Take photos of your injuries, the vehicles, skid marks, and any other property damage from multiple angles. Get names and contact info for witnesses, not just drivers. Also take note if there appears to be any camera footage, like from nearby businesses, homes, or vehicles that had dash cameras in them.
Notify Your Insurance Company
Let your insurance company know what happened. Stick to the facts – what happened, who was involved, and when/where it occurred. Don’t agree to provide a recorded statement until you speak with a lawyer – anything you say can be used to reduce or deny your payout.
Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer
One of the next important steps you need to take is to work with a personal injury lawyer in St. Louis.
Here’s what you can expect from them:
They Will Investigate your Claim
Your lawyer takes on gathering all vital documentation and working out the complete story of how and why the accident happened. Here’s what this looks like:
- Collecting Medical Records and Bills: They’ll request your medical records, hospital notes, and detailed billing statements related to your injury from treatment providers. This shows how severe your injuries are and what kind of medical expenses you’re facing.
- Looking for Proof of Liability: Through accident photos, accident reconstruction, police citations, vehicle black box data, and physical evidence, your attorney works to clearly prove how the crash occurred and who was at fault.
- Documenting Wage Loss: They’ll help you obtain documentation showing missed work and lost wages so they can continue to calculate your losses.
Hiring the right car accident lawyer means they’re on your side from day one so you can focus on recovering while they focus on getting you the compensation you’re entitled to.
Filing an Insurance Claim or Personal Injury Lawsuit
After an accident, most cases start with a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Your lawyer prepares and submits all required paperwork, organizes supporting documents (like medical bills, repair costs, and proof of lost wages), and communicates with the insurer on your behalf.
Negotiations often follow, where the goal is to reach a fair settlement that covers all your damages – both now and in the future. If settlement talks break down or the insurance company disputes fault or the value of your losses, your case may move from a simple insurance claim into a personal injury lawsuit.
Filing a lawsuit involves formally bringing your case before a Missouri court, gathering deeper evidence through the legal process called “discovery,” and sometimes going before a jury to reach a final outcome. A lawsuit doesn’t always mean a trial is guaranteed – many cases still settle before a court decision is made.
All of these steps can be a bit overwhelming when you’re trying to handle them on your own. Fortunately, you don’t have to.
If you were injured in a car accident, contact us for a free consultation and find out what to do from here.