Pandemic or no pandemic, seeking medical care should be your first priority after being injured in a motor vehicle accident.
Don’t let COVID-19 deter you. You deserve fair compensation for your injuries.
The COVID-19 pandemic can make it harder to deal with an automobile accident. But that shouldn’t stop injured persons from doing what they need to do to obtain fair compensation for their damages.
What to Do at the Accident Scene
Although you still need to exchange personal and insurance information with others involved in the accident, be sure to do so as safely as possible by maintaining six feet of distance from others (if you can) and by wearing a mask. Instead of physically handling documents, consider using your smartphone to exchange photos of driver’s licenses and insurance ID cards.
In Colorado, you can file an accident report online for accidents in which no one was injured and no alcohol or drugs were involved and that have not been investigated by law enforcement. If law enforcement does investigate your accident, you can download a PDF form from the dmv.colorado.gov site to request a copy of the report.
If an accident is not being investigated by law enforcement, you need to create your own record of what happened by taking photographs of the damage and gathering the contact information of witnesses — again, from as safe a distance as possible.
Seek Medical Treatment ASAP
Your first priority after being in a motor vehicle accident should be to seek medical care even if you don’t think you were seriously hurt. Failure to obtain medical attention after an accident can reduce the value of any claim. It may also be bad for your health if your self-diagnosis is inaccurate. Moreover, obtaining medical treatment generates medical records that document any injuries caused by the accident. Don’t let the pandemic deter you; like you, emergency medical providers and hospitals are taking precautions to avoid exposure to COVID-19.
Working with Insurance Companies
Some accident victims have reported delays when submitting a claim to an insurance company during the pandemic. The delays may have to do with the difficulty of running a business under these circumstances. But they may also have to do with the bad faith tactics some insurers use to delay the resolution of claims. The idea is to pressure claimants who want to get on with their lives into accepting a lower settlement than they otherwise would have. The possibility of such tactics is one reason you should retain an experienced Colorado personal injury lawyer to represent you when you pursue your claim.
Proving Your Personal Injury Case
Because of social-distancing requirements, it can be harder than usual to establish liability for a motor vehicle accident. Fortunately, under Colorado’s statute of limitations for automobile accidents, you have three years from the date of the accident to file a legal claim. This will provide your attorney with enough time to build a strong case so that you obtain the maximum amount of compensation. But don’t make the mistake of waiting until the pandemic is over to retain legal representation and file your claim. No one knows exactly when it will end. If the statute of limitations expires, you will be forever barred from bringing a lawsuit about this case.
Contact an Experienced Colorado Personal Injury Attorney
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, contact the Law Offices of Daniel R. Rosen online or call 303-454-8000 or 800-ROSEN-911 to schedule your free initial consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney today.