What to Do in a Rear Ended Accident

November 14, 2023

Video transcript:

Were you stopped somewhere in your car when all of a sudden … BAM! … someone slammed into you from behind? After the shock of your rear end car accident wears off, there are some steps you’ll want to take to minimize health risks and set yourself up for success should you decide to file an insurance claim with the other party’s insurer. Hello there! I’m representing Hensley Legal Group — a personal injury law firm based out of Indiana. Today, I’m here to discuss with you important facts about rear end accidents. Safety should always be your number one priority after any car accident. This means you should call the police as soon as you can. If anyone is injured, let police dispatch know to send an ambulance. Next, document details about the accident. Jot down the date and approximate time of the incident, as well as notes about how it happened. Consider also collecting the contact information and insurance information of the other party. If you can, you may want to try to collect the contact information of any witnesses as well. Whether you opt to seek medical care in the days following the accident or immediately after it, it’s crucial you do not put it off completely. If you delay medical care, it could adversely impact your auto claim. Don’t downplay your injuries and try not to discuss the accident with anyone other than the police and first responders. Indiana provides two years to file your claim. Does that mean you should procrastinate? Most definitely not. The longer you wait to file your claim, the more cause the insurer will have to deny it — since they would have no way of telling whether your injuries are from the rear end accident or something else. Working with an attorney experienced in handling rear end accident claims can streamline the claims process for you. In fact, once you file your initial claim with the insurer, you generally will not need to be involved in the claims process at all. Your attorney will handle everything from collecting documentation to communicating with the insurance company and negotiating a favorable settlement with the claims adjuster. All you’ll have to do is follow-through on the treatment for your injuries and say yes or no to the settlement you’re offered. If you say no, your attorney will return to the negotiating table to fight for a higher settlement. Assuming you were evaluated by a licensed medical professional either immediately following your rear end accident or in the days after it, you will want to do your best to not stray from the treatment plan that was recommended to you. This will help you secure a settlement that fairly and reasonably compensates you for your injuries. We hope this video has provided you with the information you were looking for about rear end accidents. If this video answered your questions, do us a favor and hit the “like” and “subscribe” buttons. We appreciate you tuning in.