One thing you weren’t expecting as you drove through town today was to be struck by another driver. You were waiting at a red light when the driver behind you slammed into you. They never looked up and didn’t show any sign of slowing down.
You’re not sure what they were doing or why they failed to stop, but you’re now dealing with a significant problem. You have two broken legs, a shattered wrist and a broken nose. You have a head injury that causes dizziness and trouble with your vision. It’s a nightmare for you, and it’s just the beginning of your recovery.
What should you do now?
When you go through a rear-end collision, the likelihood is that the other driver will be found to be at fault. If their phone was at the scene, officers may investigate and see if they were texting or distracted in other ways at the time of the collision. If so, that may help you make an even stronger case for compensation.
Immediately after the crash, you went to the hospital. Now, you need to collect your medical documents, receipts and bills for your attorney. As soon as you get new documents related to your injuries, forward them to your attorney. They may be willing to come see you in the hospital, so that you can focus all of your attention on your recovery while you’re surrounded by the help of your medical team.
Once you speak with your attorney, they can take over the case and begin working toward getting you a settlement. If the other driver had insurance, then your attorney can reach out and discuss a settlement with the insurance company. If not, then you may need to pursue a personal injury claim directly against the driver. If they were employed and driving for work, you may also be able to claim against their employer.
When you seek compensation, you’ll want to take into consideration how much you’ve lost in wages, how much you could lose in wages in the future and how much your medical bills will amount to. You should consider things like making changes to your home to accommodate new disabilities or getting transportation to physical therapy.
Your attorney will help you fight for the largest possible settlement, so you get what you need to support yourself as you move forward and heal. Your health is important, as is holding the other driver responsible.