What should I do immediately after a car accident?
Auto accidents are frightening experiences, but when you know what to do, then you can take these steps with confidence. Taking these steps can also help reduce your liability and help you get the most compensation possible.
Call 911
The first thing that you should do after an accident is check yourself and where you are before calling 911. If you are in danger of being hit again, then try to move your car to a safer location. You should also check on any passengers in your car to see if they suffered injuries. Get out of your vehicle and check on the other driver. Then call 911 so that the police can arrive.
Exchange Information
You will need to provide contact information to the insurance company and your attorney later on. You should get the other driver’s name, address, email address, phone number, driver’s license number, and auto insurance policy information. It’s important to know that you don’t have to be engaged in a lengthy conversation with the other driver. Sometimes people say things on the side of the road they shouldn’t. You should never apologize for an accident or take responsibility. You also shouldn’t blame the other driver or speculate how the accident happened. Just exchange the necessary information and wait for the police. You don’t want to get into an argument with the other driver while tensions are high.
Get A Copy Of The Police Report
You should obtain a copy of the police report as soon as possible. Before you leave the scene of the accident, ask the officer for a copy of the crash report. That way, you don’t have to worry about the other driver saying something to them after leaving the accident scene, and that information is put in the crash report. The police report is one of the most vital pieces of evidence used in a personal injury claim because it includes the names, telephone numbers, and contact information for all parties involved in the crash, where it happened, when it happened, and the opinions of the investigating officer. It may also include statements or a hand-drawn diagram of the accident.
Take Photographic Evidence
Photos and videos of the accident team can provide indisputable evidence of what happened. Your pictures should include your location, any traffic signs or signals, and close-up shots of the damage. Get a picture of the street signs, speed limit signs, and the license plates of both cars. You should take close-up shots that show details of the damage to the car you were driving, wide shots that encompass the scene, and videos that show the entire area.
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Get Checked By A Doctor
Even if you were involved in a minor car accident, you should still get checked by a doctor for injuries. Some injuries, like whiplash, don’t show up for several hours or days. By then, you may be feeling the aches and pains of your injuries. If you are already in pain, then you should accept medical attention from the responding paramedics. Some of the most common car accident injuries are:
- Back and spine injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Burns
- Strains and sprains
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries
Talk To An Attorney Before Talking To The Insurance Company
Usually, 24 to 48 hours after your accident, you must notify your auto insurance company about what happened. If you call them before contacting an attorney, you might say something you did not realize could hurt your case. An example is when the insurance company asks what time the accident occurred, you answer, and then they claim that you knew the time because you were looking at the clock rather than the road. These techniques are tricky, which is why you need to speak to an attorney who can talk to the insurance company for you and advise you of your rights under the law.
Keep A Journal
In the following days, weeks, or even months after your accident, you should keep a journal of your treatment and recovery. It should include the dates when you saw your doctor, updates from them, and your subjective feelings, such as any pain you might be experiencing. Your journal may also be used to help calculate pain and suffering damages. Suppose your journal includes information such as how frustrating a particular incident was because of your injuries. In that case, that can be used as evidence to show how much the defendant’s actions and negligence have affected your life.
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Stay Off Social Media
One surefire way to harm your personal injury case is to talk about it on social media. Insurance companies hire private investigators to find out if insurance claims are valid. A private investigator can find your social media profiles and use your posts against you. If you say that you are fine, then they will accuse you of exaggerating your injuries. If there are pictures of you enjoying yourself with your family, then they will claim that you are not as injured as you say you are. Most personal injury attorneys recommend that you not speak about your injury on social media. In fact, you should not discuss your accident with anyone other than your attorney, doctor and immediate family.
Hire A Lawyer Now
By now, you are aware of the many reasons why you should not wait to speak to an attorney about your case. The upside is that most personal injury attorneys offer free case evaluations, so you are under no obligation if you call today to schedule your initial consultation. A one-on-one meeting with an attorney gives you a clear idea of what it will be like to be a client of their law firm. The right car accident lawyer can help you put this accident behind you so that you can move forward with your life.
