To protect your legal rights as an injured victim, there are several steps you should take immediately after a car accident. It can be difficult to think clearly when you are involved in a collision, but staying calm and cooperating with other parties involved, as well as emergency services, will do you better than harm.
Table of Contents
After a car accident, you must:
1.Stay at the scene of the accident
No matter what type of collision it was, staying at the scene of the incident and not panicking will help you react quickly and assist other people involved, as well as assess your injuries and property damage.
2.Check for Injuries
Keep in mind that due to the adrenaline rush in your system from the incident, it could be difficult to assess the severity of your injuries and you may not feel immediate pain from them. Still, check for serious injuries, if you can help others check for injuries, please do so.
3.Move to a Safe Place
If your car creates a safety hazard for those involved, such as a gasoline leak or traffic obstruction, move to a safe place near the accident, but do not leave the scene.
4.Call
Even if you are in a minor accident, calling emergency services is important so that you can receive initial treatment for any injury no matter how minor it may seem at first. In addition, the police will collect relevant data from the event and submit a police report to help you record important information from the event. Remember to always ask for a copy of the police report.
5.Exchange information with other parties involved:
ask for contact information such as the driver’s full name, home address, email, phone number, driver’s license, insurance company, and vehicle policy number and license plates. Provide the same information to the other party as well. You must note the driver’s relationship to the vehicle involved in an accident if you are not the owner, as well as the model and color of the vehicle. Be sure to do the same with witnesses to the accident. Never sign anything that does not come from the police, even if it is from your own insurance company.
6.Take pictures of the scene
document the collision with your cell phone. Take pictures of the vehicles involved, the general scene of the accident, property damage, injuries, and road hazards. You can also take pictures of the driver’s license and plates of the other vehicle. It is also advisable to take pictures of the insurance documents in case your notes are misplaced, or some detail was written incorrectly.
7.Record everything that happened
write everything the way you remember it. Include approximate weather, weather, and road conditions. Try to also note how other vehicles around you behaved. How you enter the details is up to you, but recording everything will help you with your injury and property damage claims.
8.Have a civil conversation
your emotions will run high after an accident, that’s for sure, but always be courteous and polite to the other parties involved, the police and medical personnel who will assist you in the accident. Speaking without thinking and being upset will do you more harm than good.
9.Report the accident to your insurance
notify your insurance company immediately about the accident but do not reveal anything more than necessary or make a spoken or written statement, this could affect the compensation for your claim. Notifying you is the easiest way to start a car accident claim.
10.Contact a personal injury Lawyer
While insurance companies will tell you that they can handle your claim and provide you with compensation, the amount they offer will likely equal the breadcrumbs of what you deserve. An experienced car accident lawyer will thoroughly analyze all the evidence to help you determine the actual compensation you deserve.
Not only that, but a good personal injury attorney will help you get the proper treatment for your injuries through a medical lien without affecting your wallet.
In addition, a personal injury attorney will be able to navigate through all the tricks of insurance companies as they have a thorough understanding of the relevant laws and regulations. He will save you all the stress of dealing with insurance companies on your own so you can get the best possible settlement offer.