Notify People Who May Be
Responsible For Your Injuries
If you intend to file a claim for
your injuries, it's important to notify potential defendants
after the accident.
Starting the insurance claim process is simple. You don't
have to know who was at fault for the accident; you must
simply think about who might have been at fault. And in the
beginning, you don't have to give the people involved, or
their insurance companies, any detailed information about the
accident or your injuries. All you have to do is notify them
that there was an accident at a certain time and place, that
you were injured, and that you intend to file a claim.
Act Immediately
The important thing about starting your claim is to not
delay too long. Except for claims against government
entities, you need not give notice within any specific number
of days following an accident. But it is always best to start
early, within the first couple of weeks after the accident.
Filing a notice of an injury accident with people or
agencies does not obligate you to file a claim against them.
But if you do file a claim later, they will not be able to say
that the claim has unfairly surprised them.
Determine Who Might Be Responsible
Before you can notify those responsible for an accident of
your intention to file a claim, you must decide whom to
notify. Notify all those who might be responsible. This
usually depends on the type of accident in which you were
involved. Here are suggestions of people to notify if you were
involved in the following common types of accidents.
Vehicle Accidents
The drivers of all vehicles involved -- including the
vehicle in which you were riding if you were a passenger --
whether or not they actually hit you or your car.
The owners of all vehicles if the owners are different
from the drivers.
The employer of a driver of any vehicle if the employee
might have been on company business at the time of the
accident.
The parent of a minor who was driving or owned the
vehicle, or the parent of a minor who otherwise contributed
to the accident.
Anyone not in a vehicle who contributed to the accident,
such as someone jaywalking or a property owner who allowed
something to obstruct or interfere with the roadway.
Your own vehicle's insurance company, if you need to
make a claim under your own uninsured motorist, medical
payments, collision, or no-fault coverage.
If You Slip or Trip and Fall, or Are Struck by an Object
The person who caused you to fall or caused an object to
strike you.
The owner of the property on which you fell or from
which the object came.
The renter of the property on which you fell or from
which the object came.
The owner of the business at which you fell or from
which the object came.
The parent of a minor who caused you to fall or who
caused you to be struck with an object.
The employer of a person who, apparently during work
time, caused you to fall or to be struck with an object,
regardless of where the accident occurred.
If You Are Injured by a Dangerous or Defective Product
The business where you, or someone else, purchased or
rented the product.
The business where you were supplied with the product to
use on the business's premises.
The manufacturer of the product.
Write Notification Letters
Once you have determined those who might be responsible for
your accident, your next step is to write letters telling each
of them that the accident happened and that you were injured.
You may need to send more than one letter -- for example, one
letter to the business where you fell and another to the
person who owns the property.
Write a letter of notification even if the others involved
have assured you that they will notify their insurance
companies. Your notification should be a simple, typed letter
giving only basic information and asking for a written
response. It should not discuss fault or responsibility, or
the extent of your injuries; you will get to those things
later on.
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