850,000 car accident jury verdict awarded.
Slip & Fall Injury
100,000 jury verdict for a slip and fall injury on an icy parking lot.
Workplace Injury
300,000 Jury verdict awarded to a prisoner injured working for the state of Wisconsin.
Making a Claim After a Car Accident
The weeks, months and sometimes even years following a car accident can be confusing, frustrating, painful and scary. Unfortunately, at this time when most people are least able to cope is precisely when it is most important for them to do so. Ignoring the medical, legal and economic aftermath of an accident can have devastating long-term consequences.
These questions and answers are presented to help you understand some common car accident injuries and ways to manage post-accident realities so that you can protect yourself and your legal rights.
What Should I Do After an Accident?
Although it can be challenging to stay focused and alert following an accident, it is best if you can. Above all, stay calm and remember to:
- If you aren’t injured, check to see if anyone needs immediate help.
- If anyone needs immediate help, call 911.
- Determine the extent of the damage, and take pictures if you can.
- If you haven’t already, call 911 or the police.
- Exchange information with the other driver.
What Is Whiplash?
Whiplash is a very common soft tissue car accident injury that may present as severe neck pain, headaches, blurry vision, and even difficulty chewing. Typically, whiplash results when someone is rear-ended, which forces their neck to snap suddenly.
How Do I Claim for Whiplash?
If you have been in a car accident and are suffering from symptoms commonly associated with whiplash (such as neck pain, headaches and vision problems), you should consider contacting a qualified personal injury attorney for legal advice. A good lawyer can help you make a claim and get the full compensation you are entitled to for your injuries.
How Much Can I Claim for Whiplash?
How much you can claim for whiplash from a car accident is based on two factors: how much pain and suffering you have endured as a result of the accident and how much financial impact the whiplash has had on you. In this way, whiplash compensation can cover both the immediate hardships and pain that whiplash causes and the long-term financial losses that medication, doctor visits and therapy can cost.
How Long Does Whiplash Last?
How long whiplash lasts varies depending on the severity of the crash. In some cases, whiplash can last for weeks or months following an accident, and it doesn’t always show up right away. Worse yet, whiplash can lead to chronic, long-term pain, which can make it difficult or impossible for the whiplash sufferer to work.
What Is “No Win, No Fee” Work?
Also known as working on a contingency basis, “no win, no fee” work means that unless your lawyer wins your case, there are no legal fees for you to pay. Milwaukee car accident attorney Karl Gebhard works on a contingency basis precisely because without it many car accident victims would not have the means to pursue their cases in court.
If you have been involved in a car accident and think you have a claim but think you cannot pursue it because you can’t afford it, call Milwaukee personal injury attorney today for a free case evaluation.
What Not To Do After a Car Accident
Being in a car accident can be scary, painful and confusing. That’s why knowing what not to do after a car accident can be just as beneficial as knowing what to do: It can keep you from making seemingly small mistakes that could cost you a lot in the long run.
If you’re involved in a car crash in Milwaukee, the best thing that you can do is contact an experienced Milwaukee car accident lawyer as soon as possible. A good lawyer can help you protect your legal rights and advise you on how to deal with the insurance companies.
Do Not Panic
Although it can be hard to stay calm when you’re in the middle of an accident scene, it is vital that you do. Staying calm will help you think logically and respond to questions appropriately. If you start to feel yourself losing control, count to 10 and take a series of long, deep breaths.
Do Not Admit Fault
Even if you think the accident may have been your fault, do not (under any circumstances) make any admissions of fault to the other driver, to the police, or to anyone else at the accident scene. Not only could you be wrong, the other driver could use your statement against you later. If the other driver is argumentative or implies that the accident was your fault, politely tell the him or her to discuss the matter with your attorney.
Do Not Leave the Area
No matter how small the accident may seem to you, it is illegal to leave the scene of an accident. If you leave the scene of an accident, you could be arrested on a criminal complaint. If you are in an accident, pull over and either exchange information with the other driver or wait for the police to arrive.
Do Not Make Any Oral Agreements
Sometimes an at-fault driver will offer to pay for damages upfront rather than involving the police or insurance companies. While this can be tempting, it is in your best interest to contact the police, your insurance company, and a qualified car accident attorney. Not only do you have no way to knowing whether the other driver even has insurance, you also have no way of knowing if they’ll really pay you either.
Forget to Get the Facts
One of the most important things that you can do after you’ve been in an accident is get all of the other driver’s information. This includes their name, address, insurance company name, policy number, vehicle information (such as make, model and color of car), and license plate number. If you can, get pictures of the crash site and damage to the vehicles too.
Forget to Call 911
Calling 911 is the first step to making sure that your accident is documented and recorded by a third party. The accident report that the police file serves as your proof that the accident happened. (Think about it: Without it, what proof would you have that the accident even happened?)
Get a Free Consultation with a Milwaukee Car Accident Lawyer
Personal injury lawyer Karl Gebhard offers free legal consultations for car accident lawsuits for both economic and non-compensatory damage claims. Because he works on a contingency basis, he does not accept any fees for his legal services until the case is won.
For your free consultation, call today at 414-873-6550