If you have been injured in a car accident, it’s important to seek compensation. This is because you may have significant medical bills to pay and your injury may prevent you from doing your job or earning an income. Fortunately, if you can prove that your injuries are due to the fault of another party, you will be able to claim for compensation. However, claiming for personal injury can be a long and tedious process, so you might want to hire a lawyer to handle the matter for you. A personal injury lawyer can represent you directly with the insurer or the at-fault party’s insurance company, and he will negotiate on your behalf to ensure that you receive the maximum compensation.
To file a claim, you must report the accident car accident injury claim Singapore to one of the approved reporting centres or authorised workshops within 24 hours or by the next working day. This report will serve as an official written record of the accident and will be used by the police, insurance companies, and lawyers to determine liability. Make sure to take down the other driver’s name, address, and car registration number, as well as any witnesses to the accident. You should also note down the date and time of the accident, and take photos if possible.
You must also keep all receipts for expenses that you incurred as a result of the accident. This includes hospital bills, clinic bills, lost income, and other costs. If you are unable to work as a result of your injury, you can claim for lost wages under the WICA scheme. Similarly, if you are bereaved as a result of the death of a loved one in a car accident, you can claim bereavement damages fixed at $15,000.
Most people who are involved in car accidents do not report it to their insurance companies because they fear losing their no-claim discount. However, General Insurance Association of Singapore (GIA) chief executive Ho Kai Weng says that most motorists already know that they must report an accident to their insurers within a reasonable period of time. He adds that more than 90 per cent of motorists do so.
GIA has also introduced a new scheme called the Small Claims Initiative, which allows consumers to file a complaint against their insurer without paying legal fees for non-injury motor claims below $3,000. This is in line with the government’s aim of simplifying and expediting the settlement of disputes.
However, if you are involved in a serious accident and need to sue for personal injuries, it is best to hire a reputable firm that has years of experience in handling such cases. It will be able to identify the conditions that are relevant to your case and justify the total amount of compensation that you may be claiming, thus increasing your chances of winning the case. You can check out the profile of a personal injury lawyer before hiring them. Also, make sure that they are licensed and insured.