After a car crash, you’re suddenly dealing with unexpected responsibilities, disruptions to your personal life, and a post-accident process that can be overwhelming.
That’s where the car accident lawyers in Wichita, KS, from Mann Wyatt Tanksley come in—to guide you in the right direction.
In simplified terms, we will walk you through what to do immediately after a car accident to ensure your journey to justice stays on course.
By following our seven steps, you’ll be better equipped to handle the aftermath of a crash. We’ll also reveal three ways insurance companies devalue claims and key things to watch out for. Plus, you’ll gain insights into answering the tough question, “What is my case worth?”
If you still have questions after reading through, don’t worry. Just scroll to the bottom of the page to fill out a contact form, and we’ll provide the personalized support you need.
Seven Steps to Follow After an Accident
Step 1: Contact the Police
It’s crucial to call the police and ensure they arrive at the accident scene to file a report. The officers should investigate, speak with everyone involved, and determine what happened. Of course, if you’re too seriously injured, focus on your health first.
Step 2: Prioritize Your Health
Your body’s well-being comes first. Seek medical attention immediately, whether that means heading to the emergency room, riding in an ambulance, or visiting your primary care doctor the next day. Knowing what to do after a car accident for your body is essential for both your health and your case.
Step 3: Gather Information
Ideally, the police will handle this, but it’s essential to get the other driver’s insurance details yourself in case they don’t. A photo of their driver’s license, their name and phone number, or a copy of their insurance card can be invaluable.
Step 4: Document the Scene
If you’re able, use your phone to photograph the accident scene. Capture images of both vehicles and any other details that could be important for documentation later on.
Step 5: Notify Your Insurance Company
Call your insurance company to initiate a claim. This step kick-starts the process, alerts them to the accident, and allows you to begin receiving the benefits you’re entitled to.
Step 6: Clarify Your Claims
When speaking to your insurance company, clearly distinguish between two separate claims: Property Damage and Bodily Injury. Property Damage covers the vehicle and personal belongings, while Bodily Injury addresses your injuries and medical expenses. Making this distinction ensures both claims are set up correctly and avoids confusion.
Step 7: Consult a Trusted Car Accident Lawyer
Reach out to a car accident lawyer in Wichita whom you trust. They’ll guide you through your case and help determine whether the insurance offer is fair or if you deserve more compensation.
Handling all of these steps can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re recovering from an injury. Instead of juggling these tasks, call an auto accident attorney in Wichita, KS from Mann Wyatt Tanksley. We’ll manage the details so you can focus on healing.
Three Ways Insurance Companies Devalue Claims
1. Medical Bills
Insurance companies often start by anchoring a claim’s value to the total amount of medical bills. However, from a legal perspective, medical expenses are just one piece of the puzzle. The more significant aspects of your case are the pain and suffering you’ve endured, how the accident has affected your life, and the potential long-term changes to your future. Unfortunately, the insurance company tends to focus solely on your medical bills, ignoring the broader impact on your life.
2. Pre-existing Conditions
Another tactic insurance companies use to devalue your claim is by scrutinizing any prior injuries or pre-existing conditions you had before the accident. If they can attribute part of your medical bills or claim to these prior conditions, they will. While this approach is unfair, it happens frequently. Fortunately, we are experienced in challenging these attempts.
3. Prior Motor Vehicle Accidents
Lastly, insurance companies will investigate whether you’ve been involved in any previous car accidents, even minor ones where you weren’t injured or didn’t seek medical attention. If they find a previous accident, they might argue that your current injuries stem from that incident or suggest you have a history of filing claims. This assumption is often unproven, but it’s a common tactic they use to reduce the value of your claim.
What Is My Case Worth
How to Answer, “What Is My Case Worth?”
One of the most common questions we get, even from those who haven’t hired us yet, is: “What will I walk away with?” “What’s the value of my case?” or simply, “What is my case worth?”
To be honest, it’s a tough question to answer—and sometimes, it’s nearly impossible.
Before you hire Mann Wyatt Tanksley, your case is essentially worth whatever the insurance company has offered you. However, with our extensive experience and the data we’ve gathered, we can confidently say that cases we handle typically see a value increase of at least 30-40% once we’re involved.
Your case could be worth a million dollars or nothing at all—it depends on many factors that we can’t fully explain in a short conversation. Our job is to get you the maximum compensation possible.
The reality is, that a Wichita car accident lawyer must answer this question differently for every client. It depends on the specifics of the case, where we are in the process, what the client needs to know, and many other legal nuances.
One straightforward way to put it is: “Your case is currently worth whatever the insurance company is offering you right now.”
Insurance Offer Example
Let’s say State Farm offers you $10,000 for your case right now. At this moment, that’s the value of your case because it’s what they’re willing to pay. Our job is to advise you on whether that offer is fair or unfair and, most importantly, to maximize your compensation.
From a legal standpoint, the best way to approach the question, “What is my case worth?”—without knowing specific details—is by considering what we would aim for if we took your case to trial.
We ask ourselves: What could we demand? What evidence could we present? How might a jury respond?
Typically, a jury consists of 12 people from diverse backgrounds. In most cases, we seek reimbursement for medical expenses, compensation for lost wages, and damages for pain and suffering. These categories cover both past and future losses—what you’ve already experienced and what you may face going forward.
To determine your case’s worth, we evaluate all these factors, add them up, and assess how a jury might value them. This gives us a clearer picture of your case’s potential value.
However, other factors also come into play, such as policy limits, the insurer’s offer, the time since your injury, and the current status of your case. These variables can significantly influence the answer to “What is my case worth?”—making it a complex, but crucial, question.
One thing you should avoid after a car accident is accepting the initial insurance offer without consulting an attorney. Knowing what not to do after a car accident can be just as important as knowing what to do.
The bottom line is that, at Mann Wyatt Tanksley, we’re committed to getting you the maximum compensation possible for your case.
Trusted Auto Accident Attorneys in Wichita, KS
We’ve handled thousands of cases as a firm. Our data shows that if you hire our team, your case could be worth much more than if you handle it alone.
“Even with diligent and zealous representation, not all cases can be won. Every case is different and results are based on specific factual and legal circumstances, and similar results may not be obtained in your case. Our past performance is no guarantee of future results.” – Mike Wyatt, Personal Injury Attorney
If you’re still confused about what to do next, contact Mann Wyatt Tanksley Injury Attorneys for a free case analysis and case estimate. You’ll speak with trusted personal injury attorney Mike Wyatt. Mike is a car accident attorney for Wichita, KS, with decades of experience helping people get the compensation they deserve. He will walk you through your case and determine if the offer from the insurance company is fair for your situation. If he sees the Mann Wyatt Tanksley team can provide value to your case, we’ll gladly partner with you.
Scroll below to schedule your free case analysis and case estimate.
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