WHAT TO DO AFTER A WRECK AT THE OUTER BANKS NORTH CAROLINA - PRESERVING YOUR CLAIM & PROTECTING YOUR INTERESTS

1. Preserving Your Claim
Protecting Your Interests
Preventing Losses
WHAT TO DO AFTER A WRECK

2. Make sure everyone involved is out of harm’s
way
Call 911 ASAP
Do not move the vehicles until law enforcement
arrives
AT THE SCENE OF
THE WRECK

3. Take pictures, or if you are seriously injured, have
someone else take pictures of EVERYTHING –
vehicles, skid marks, debris, scene, injured people
Do Not Refuse Medical Care – this is not the
time to try to be tough.
AT THE SCENE OF THE WRECK

4. Tell medical personnel about every part of your
body that is hurt or affected.
Give an accurate history of your previous
injuries, surgeries, etc. Don’t leave anything out.
Follow-up with other physicians as ordered.
Fill all of the prescriptions you are given
Provide all medical providers a copy of your
health insurance card.
AMBULANCE /
EMERGENCY ROOM

5. Some of the most important decisions and
actions, and some of the biggest mistakes, are
made very early on in a case.
Insurance company adjusters and investigators
are extensively trained and highly skilled to do
things to save the insurance company money.
An Experienced Personal Injury Attorney helps
level the playing field.
CONTACT EXPERIENCED ATTORNEY
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

6. Fair Market Value (FMV) of the vehicle
determined
NADA.com, KBB.com or Edmunds.com may
provide a reasonable idea of the FMV
Insurance company is responsible for the costs
of new “title and tags.”
There may be reimbursement for the “loss of
use” of a vehicle, even if you do not obtain a
rental car.
HANDLING TOTAL LOSS
PROPERTY DAMAGE CLAIM

7. Do not give a recorded statement
Do not answer any questions if on medication,
under doctor’s care, or otherwise unable to think
clearly.
Never guess or speculate about things such as
injuries, treatment, long-term losses or
disabilities.
DEALING WITH INSURANCE ADJUSTER

8. WHAT TO DO AFTER A WRECK
If you've recently been in a car wreck, or a truck wreck, or a motorcycle wreck,
three things you really need to do immediately. First of all, do not talk to the
insurance company for the personat fault. That insurance company is trained to
take a statement and to get information against you that they can use later to
decrease the amount ofyour settlement.
Second, you need to see your doctor ifyou've not already done so. If you have, you
need to make sure you're doing everything your doctor tells you to do. Whether
it's therapy or rest, or prescriptions. The third thing you need to do is you need
to take photographs ofthe damage to any vehicles, ofany visible injuries. Cuts
and bruises go away and it's important that you document those as quickly as
you can.

9. Take pictures of everything –
bruises, cuts, stitches, crutches, walkers, casts, etc.
Submit all bills to YOUR health insurance company..
Do not skip doctor or therapy appointments.
Do not downplay your injuries and symptoms when
talking to your doctor or therapist.
Make sure to tell your doctor or therapist the truth
about your wreck, fall or other event that caused
your injuries.
Make sure you obtain, and keep copies, of doctor’s
notes excusing any and all absences from school or
work.
PRESERVING YOUR CLAIM