A car accident is a jarring experience, and the aftermath can be difficult to navigate. There are insurance companies to deal with, a car to repair or replace, and possibly injuries to treat. The good news is that you have a 61% chance of success if you make a claim, according to InjuredCallToday. An accident attorney can help you navigate insurance claims and get damages to your body and property covered. However, there are important steps you need to follow if you've been injured in a car accident.

Get Medical Attention

The first concern is your health. If you are injured, get medical attention ASAP. How quickly you get it may depend on the severity of the injury. Perhaps you are treated initially by EMTs on the scene, or perhaps you go to your doctor the next day after waking up with soft tissue inflammation from whiplash. It's important, though, to not wait too long if you think something is wrong. If you do and then try to claim money later for injuries, the insurance company you are seeking a settlement through will be able to argue that the injury was not severe because you did not seek medical attention quickly enough. For this reason, you'll want to get to the doctor as soon as possible.

Record Evidence at the Scene

If you are physically able to and you are safe from passing traffic, make sure to take photos of the accident scene. Get pictures of the damage to all cars involved. Get insurance information from any other drivers involved. You'll want to call the police to the scene and ask the officers how you can get a copy of the police report. The initial evidence you gather will illustrate the events to a court and judge. Act fast because the city will clean up the scene quickly. Of course, if you are not able to because of an injury, do not worry about this step.

Meet With a Lawyer

If you don't have an existing auto accident attorney, make sure you get one quickly. Ask family and friends for referrals to reliable lawyers. Even if the lawyer they know is not a specialist in automotive accidents or personal injury law, they may be able to point you in the right direction.

Do your research online, too. Look for lawyers with plenty of experience and a specialization in auto accidents or personal injury. There are plenty of auto accident law firms out there. Comparing online ratings and testimonials can give you a sense of who may work best for you, but you won't know for sure until you meet them in person. Most lawyers provide free initial consultations. You can get a sense of who they are as a person, what they think of your case, and how much they will charge.

Adhere to a Treatment Plan

Make sure you follow up with your medical provider regularly. Adhere to any treatment plan they give you and keep every document they hand you concerning your injury. Keep track of medical bills, too. It's important to show the court that you did everything in your power to treat the injury related to the accident and to have records on the amount the treatment cost you.

It's also a good idea to keep a journal of the ways the injury has affected you. You can jot down the ways the injury has physically inhibited your day-to-day life and track your pain levels on a scale of one to 10 every day. It's also important to note how it affected you personally and mentally. You will be seeking a settlement that covers pain and suffering. Suffering can be difficult to quantify, so you will want to have plenty of firsthand, hard to argue, proof.

Record Lost Wages

If you missed work because of your injury, make sure you note your lost wages. You can speak with your employer or bank to get statements to prove you lost money during your recovery, and this will come into play for your settlement. If you had not been injured, you would have been able to earn the money. You are entitled to it but have to show that you lost it in the first place as a result of the accident.

Outside of these tips, make sure you follow up consistently with your lawyer to make sure they are getting expert testimony and witnesses to help your cause. They will also deal with the insurance companies for you, as auto accident attorneys are well-versed in this art. For a reliable and high-quality accident attorney, look no further than Gridley Ward and Hamilton. Call today or visit our website for more information.