You were in a car accident in New Hampshire, and now you will be dealing with the insurance companies. The process can be easy or hard depending on what sort of steps you took immediately after the crash. Understandably, you may be shaken up and forget to take certain steps, but the following will explain what victims should ideally be able to do.
Staying calm, assessing the situation
Victims should first of all check for any injuries and call for an ambulance if there are. They should move their vehicles if these pose an obstacle to traffic. Victims should call for the police, too, both to ensure that everyone cooperates and to write up a report of the incident, which can afterwards be sent to the insurance companies. Victims can exchange their name and insurance information, never admitting fault or blaming the other.
Before their memory fades, victims should write down everything that happened, drawing a diagram if necessary. They can also take photographs of the damage and of any injuries. This part can be made easy with a free app called WreckCheck that the National Association of Insurance Commissioners provides. In addition, victims should obtain:
• Any eyewitnesses’ contact information
• The officer’s contact information
• The number of the report
How insurance can cover one’s losses
New Hampshire is an at-fault state, so one’s losses can be covered by the other driver’s insurance company. For example, that driver’s property damage and bodily injury liability coverage should be able to cover most injuries if they were not serious. Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage would have to pay out in certain cases, of course. There are optional coverages that can apply, such as emergency roadside service and rental car coverage.
Finding a lawyer to represent you
It may be wise for you to hire a lawyer before pursuing a personal injury claim because auto insurance companies can be aggressive in denying payment. They may try to force you into a low-ball settlement, but a lawyer representing you during negotiations may sidestep all of this. Legal assistance may allow you to concentrate more on your recovery.