Fargo & Bismark Car Accident Lawyers

North Dakota, Minnesota & Montana Car Accident Attorneys

If you have been injured in a motor vehicle crash, you and your family may have experienced disruptions from medical appointments, time off your job, medical bills, financial difficulties, and disabling injuries. Personal injury claims can be extremely complicated. Who pays for what? How do I get my car repaired? What about my medical expenses and wage loss? These are questions that an attorney from our law firm can answer for you.

What Should You Do If You Are Injured in a Car Accident?

A quick list of things to know and do after a traffic collision:

• Exchange identification, vehicle registration, and insurance information.
• Anytime there is an injury or property damage over $1,000, you must report the crash to the police.
• Take photographs of your vehicle and your injury.
• Seek medical care for your injuries at an emergency room, walk-in clinic, or with your primary care providers as soon as possible.
• Report the crash and your injuries to your insurance company. Waiting more than six months could allow your insurance company to deny you benefits. The law or your insurance policy may require you to sign an application for benefits or authorization forms, but you should always check with an attorney before you sign any documents.
• Don’t give a written or tape-recorded statement to any insurance company without first talking to a lawyer. Our recommendation is that you should never talk to the other driver’s insurance company for any reason without first talking to a lawyer.

What Should You Do Right After A Car Accident?

In the hours and days following a crash, you should:

• Following an automobile accident, there is a lot of information that will need to be gathered before you file a claim. The sooner you gather the information, the more likely it is to be accurate and complete. Even if you do not think you will file a claim, it is easier to gather the information early and discard it later than it is to recreate information that was not obtained at the beginning.
• In most accidents, an investigating police officer is called to the scene to fill out a detailed accident report form. This form contains much information about the accident and the parties involved. Thus, a good starting point in gathering information is to obtain the accident report.
• You should also get a copy of your own automobile insurance policy. Even if you are not at fault in an accident, your own insurance company may have obligations to pay medical expenses, property damage, and even personal injury damages if the other driver does not have insurance sufficient to cover your damages.
• Obtain copies of medical records from any physicians you have seen after the accident. You may want to obtain your physician records from before the accident to help prove that your injuries were caused by the accident and not preexisting.
• If your injuries have caused you to miss work or use vacation or sick leave, you may want to copy your W-2 forms and paycheck stubs to help establish a wage loss.
• Obtain copies of repair estimates for your vehicle’s property damage. If you get more than one estimate, be sure to get copies of all estimates.
• Obtain names and addresses of any witnesses to the accident. If possible, get statements from them about what they witnessed. The names and addresses of all occupants and drivers involved in the accident and their respective insurance information are also important to obtain.

Will My Case Go to Court?

Maring Williams Law Office is committed to long-term relationships with insurance companies and healthcare providers, which help us to be more efficient and cost-effective in trying to negotiate settlements for our clients. The majority of our cases settle out of court, but if we can’t get a fair agreement, we may take your case to court.

What is a Fair Result for a Car Accident Case?

There is no amount of money that can make up for the pain and suffering caused by an injury. On the other hand, the only compensation the law allows is money to help make up for the harm caused to you by someone else. Every case is different. We will get to know you and evaluate your injury based on your unique needs to determine what amount of compensation is fair given the situation.

My Insurance Company Has Scheduled Me to See Another Doctor – Do I Have to Go?

Yes. But an “independent medical examination” (IME) is often the first step by the insurance company to terminate your no-fault benefits. This physician is not intended to give you a second opinion or offer you alternative treatment options. They work for the insurance company.

Call us at (701) 402-6644 immediately if you are scheduled for an IME. We can explain your rights and tell you what to expect next.