5 Personal Injury Medical Bill Tips Following a Car Accident

Getting into a car collision can be scary, jolting and life altering. If you suffered an injury after a collision, it can be even more life altering. And when the dust finally settles, it is important to file an insurance claim, because there is a good chance that your medical bills are mounting. When it comes down to it, filing a claim to have your medical bills covered is relatively easy and you don’t necessarily need to hire a lawyer, which can be expensive and time consuming. All you need to file your claim is the other driver’s insurance information. Whether the other driver has a California car insurance policy or a policy in some other state, you should be covered. Here are five personal injury medical bill tips following a car accident.

1. Take photographs of your injuries. Whether in the hospital or any time after the accident, you want to make sure that you have photographic evidence of your injuries. If you need to go to a deposition to fight for your claim, your photos will prove your case and they will get your medical bills covered. Without photographs, it will be hard to fight for your case.
2. Go to the hospital after your accident. Even if you only suffered a sore or bruised neck, you still want to go to the hospital. For one thing, you don’t want to run the risk of suffering an injury and waiting for it to get worse. Also, going to the hospital will allow you to build up medical records so that you can get your bills covered. In the end, visiting the emergency room is a smart move either way, because it is always better to be safe than sorry.
3. Don’t admit blame and don’t make any statements after the accident. After an auto collision, you may be dazed and a little out of it, so you don’t want to say anything that will implicate you or put you at fault. A lot of accidents are caused by multiple factors – not just one driver’s actions. If you say anything after an accident, it may be recorded and it could hurt your chance of filing a claim. This is especially the case with police – anything you say to the police may be used against you in a deposition.
4. After the collision, make sure that you have everyone’s contact information. Not only do you want to get a name and number, but you should always take a picture of the person’s license plate and driver’s license, because you never know when someone may be giving you the wrong information.
5. Report your accident to the DMV within 10 days. By law, if there was a serious injury or if someone was killed in an auto collision, it must be reported to the DMV – no matter who caused the injury. Not completing this step could put you in a precarious situation, because it may hurt your chances of getting your claim and medical bills covered.