How do I File for Accident Injury Compensation?

The steps you’ll have to take to file for accident injury compensation may depend on where you are injured. If you are injured at work, for example, you will likely have to notify a specific department or employee about your injury or contact your employer’s insurance company. If you sustain an injury at a business at which you are not an employee, however, you will likely have to notify the owner or manager and then file a claim with the business’ insurance company. If you are injured in a car accident and you have auto insurance, you will likely have to file a claim with your insurance company. If, on the other hand, you were not driving, you may file a claim with one of the drivers' insurance companies.

The first step in filing an accident injury claim is usually having the accident documented. The manner in which you will do this usually depends on where you were injured. For example, if you are injured at work, you will typically have to notify your employer through a department designated for injury reports or an employee given this task. One of your employer’s representatives may contact your employer’s insurance company with the claim, or you may be instructed to contact the insurance company. This will typically result in the documentation of your injury and the start of the accident injury compensation process.

If you are injured in a car accident, you will typically obtain a report of the accident from a law enforcement official and then need to contact your auto insurance company to file a claim. If you were not driving the car, however, you may need to contact the responsible driver’s insurance company to file a claim. Either way, you will typically have to provide the insurance company with a copy of the police report, agree to release your medical records, and answer any questions the insurance company may have.

If you are injured in a place of business at which you are not employed, you will likely have to report the injury as well. This time, however, you will usually report the injury to the owner or manager and obtain his insurance company’s contact details. Then, you may contact the business’ insurance company to file an accident injury claim or a representative may contact you instead.

You will usually need to seek medical attention when you are filing a claim for accident injury compensation. You may contact a doctor to examine you and provide treatment. Records from such examinations and any treatments provided for your injuries will likely prove an important part of the accident injury claims process.

It is often helpful to seek the assistance of an attorney when you need to file an accident injury claim. He may help you understand the claims process as well as the types of compensation for which you are entitled. If you need assistance obtaining fair accident injury compensation or arguing your case in court, he may also provide representation.