If someone in your family has been injured in an auto accident, they are undoubtedly experiencing pain and stress. They have probably also lost money as a result of missing time off of work. In addition to helping them with house cleaning and grocery shopping, you can help them heal and recover any expenses they may have incurred that are related to their accident. There are a few steps to follow to provide support to a loved one after an accident.
Help Them Collect Evidence
When a person has a car accident, they are often taken to the hospital right away. If you were in the vehicle with your loved one when the accident happened, you should call the police and wait for an officer to arrive. You should make sure to get the name, phone number and insurance information of any other drivers involved in the accident. Even if you were not there at the time of the crash you can get an accident report. Accident reports are considered public records and anyone can obtain them for 60 days after the incident.
Make sure to save a copy of every one of the victim's medical bills, including those for any alternative treatments. Collect all of the receipts that they have for any prescription or non-prescription medications they have taken. It is important for them to document the time that they have missed from work. If they are incapacitated, you may want to contact the HR department of the company they work for and obtain a letter detailing the number of hours they have missed from work due to their accident. You can also assist them in reporting their accident to their insurance company.
Emotional Support
When a person has been injured, it is not uncommon for them to have feelings of anger, nervousness, and guilt. In some cases those feelings may be very strong and, they may experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. A person with PTSD because of an accident may have trouble riding in a car, even as a passenger. They may experience intense anxiety and nightmares. The person may also have memories of the incident that they are unable to manage.
Although talking to a loved one who has experienced trauma helps, it is important that they see a physician who can refer them to a therapist or psychiatrist. A mental health professional will be able to analyze prior mental health issues and experiences in a way that a loved one may not be able to. A mental health professional can also testify in court if there should ever be a need to sue.
Hire a Personal Injury Attorney
If your loved one is bedridden, they may not be up to finding an attorney for themselves. An attorney can research your loved one's case and find the evidence that will help them build a solid case for your loved one.
Insurance companies employ lawyers who are determined to keep their money in-house and it takes a trained professional attorney to effectively negotiate with them. When researching car accident lawyers, it is important to find one with years of experience, who is well versed in California law and who has an excellent reputation with the state bar.
Car accidents are very traumatic, but the love and support of a family member and a great attorney can make things much better.
