It’s one of the most common nightmare scenarios for parents of teenagers: you get a call, informing you that your teen has just been involved in a car collision. Your first thoughts will be for your child’s well-being. Soon thereafter, you may start to think about the various implications of insurance and liability.
If your child has recently been involved in a car crash, or if you want to be prepared for a future instance, it is crucial that you know the proper steps to take. Having the right knowledge may improve your chances of receiving recompense for your child’s injury, avoiding huge increases in your insurance payments, and successfully defending any claims leveled against you and your child.
Seek medical care
First and foremost, if your child is involved in a car crash, be sure to seek immediate medical attention. Even if injuries are not severe, or not identifiable, seeing a doctor will give you an official diagnosis which will be invaluable when seeking compensation for injury and pain and suffering.
Make sure the authorities are informed of the accident
It is law in Mississippi that the police be informed of any accidents involving injury or damages to vehicles costing over $500 dollars. Cover your bases by notifying authorities.
Speak to an attorney, before an insurance adjuster
It is crucial that you speak to a car accident attorney in the event of a car crash. Mississippi is an at-fault state, meaning that reparations for injury fall on the party responsible for the car crash. This means that it is even more important for those involved in a car crash to be cautious when talking with an insurance adjustor. Any information that you give an insurance adjuster, especially one representing the other party, may be used by the insurance company to establish fault.
An attorney can advise you on your particular situation, and help you avoid any pitfalls when dealing with insurance adjusters. Being contacted by an insurance adjuster can be intimidating, so be sure you are prepared to deal with these calls. Usually, you are not required to speak with any third-party insurance companies.
File the appropriate claims
Most likely, your insurance company will contact you about filing a claim. A claims specialist can assist you in filing the claim. However, you should be cautious, as a claims specialist may not always have your interest as their priority.
You should also be conscious that Mississippi is a statute of limitations state, meaning that you have a deadline to file lawsuit for any incident. For Mississippi, this deadline is three years from the incident. Even if you believe that such a lawsuit will be unnecessary, it is a good idea to have this deadline in mind, if nothing else as a failsafe.
Accidents involving teenagers are often catastrophic; be sure to do your best to ensure that the aftermath isn’t as well.
