Financial Advice for Car Accident Victims

An auto accident can leave you in a precarious and frightening situation. Depending on the severity of the accident, you may be facing a long road in terms of your medical recovery, while also having to deal with damages to your vehicle. Insurance should cover these damages, so you can concentrate on getting well, but that's not always the case. It may be up to you to protect your financial wellbeing.

Handling Finances During Your Recovery

You'll likely have to spend time in the hospital, receiving medical treatment for your injuries. You may even have to undergo long-term physical therapy that can keep you out of work for an extended period of time. This means you'll have no money coming in until your case is settled. To manage your finances, it may help to ask your attorney to contact your creditors to explain your situation. Often, this can help limit the harassing phone calls you'll receive. Additionally, filling out a quick cash loan application can help you get the extra money you need. A small personal loan can tide you over until you receive a settlement in your personal injury case.

File Your Claim

It's important to file your accident claim as soon as possible. If the at-fault driver isn't insured, or if you are the at-fault driver, you may have to file the claim with your own insurance company. In either case, it's important to file your claim as soon as possible, because there is a time limit. Failing to file on time can cause you to lose out on the opportunity to receive compensation for your damages.

Hire a Personal Injury Attorney

While you don't have to hire a lawyer, it's in your best interests to do so as soon as you can. Those who hire an auto accident lawyer typically receive fairer settlements than people who try to handle their claims by themselves. This is because the insurance company will send an adjuster out to offer you a low, quick cash settlement. Once you do accept a settlement offer, you waive any further rights to seek damages. This is why hiring an attorney to negotiate on your behalf is wise. He can get the insurance company to offer you a fairer settlement and, if the insurance company won't compromise, your lawyer can pursue damages in court on your behalf.

Trim Your Belt

You may not realize how many expenses you can cut from your budget without feeling like you're making a big sacrifice. For instance, you can get rid of your cable bill, if you subscribe to online streaming services. You can also eliminate magazine and newspaper subscriptions by maintaining your internet service. For the time being, you may have to rely more heavily on savings through coupon clipping, shopping in bulk, and buying generic products. If you have cell phones, eliminating your home telephone service can also help. You can look for other ways to pinch pennies, so you'll be spending less over the next few months. As you eliminate expenses, don't forget to rework your budget, so those savings will go towards paying necessary bills.