After an accident, the minutes and hours that follow are crucial. What you do in those first few moments can determine whether you get the medical care you need, whether your car is towed away, and whether the police file a report. It affects even the compensation you get if you were injured and need to file a claim.
Let’s look at the six steps you should take after an accident.
Stay at the scene and call 911
If possible, move your car off the road so it doesn’t cause any more accidents. Once everyone is safe, stay put and dial 911 immediately. Provide as much detail as you can about what happened and answer the dispatcher’s questions honestly.
However, if there are fatalities involved, and you are one of the injured, you should seek medical attention immediately, and in that case, it is legal to leave the scene (and if you have to take someone else to the hospital). You should start thinking about protecting yourself after car accident and get legal counsel as soon as possible. Sometimes, there are cases when you may be liable for the accident.
Document the accident
If you can do so safely, take pictures with your phone or camera of the scene of the accident and any damage to all vehicles. You should also try to get a copy of the police report if it’s available. Make sure you note the contact information for all drivers involved, any witnesses at the scene, and the police officer who responded.
Additionally, it’s important to get accurate contact information from all parties involved in the accident. Make sure you exchange names, addresses, phone numbers, license plate numbers, insurance providers, and policy numbers with the other driver(s). Do not take responsibility for the accident and don’t sign any documents you’re not comfortable with.
Seek medical attention
Even if you feel like you’re not badly injured, it’s important to seek medical attention straight away. Some types of injuries don’t show symptoms right away, so visit a doctor or hospital as soon as you can. Remember to take pictures of your injuries, if possible, and keep any medical receipts or bills from the hospital visit.
These can be used and needed by insurance companies and lawyers when filing a claim. However, if you are not able to seek medical attention at the time of the accident, be sure to do so within a few days.
Contact the insurance company
Immediately after the accident, you should contact your insurance company to start the claims process. Depending on which state you live in, there may be a time limit on how long you have to report an accident, so don’t wait too long or else your claim might end up denied.
On the other hand, if you are not the one at fault for the accident, then you should contact the other driver’s insurance company as soon as possible. Have in mind that you should keep a record of all other costs associated with the accident such as car repairs, rental cars, and lost wages due to missed work that you will need for the insurance claim.
Consult with an attorney
If someone got injured or there was property damage because of your accident, it’s important to speak with a lawyer. An experienced personal injury lawyer can make sure everything is taken care of and help you get the compensation you deserve for medical bills, loss of wages, pain, suffering, and more.
Not to mention that insurance companies might try to underpay you, so it’s best to get an attorney involved to make sure all insurance claims are handled properly.
Additionally, a personal injury lawyer can help you determine if the other driver was at fault, and how to bring a lawsuit against them if necessary.
Take care of yourself
Finally, remember that taking care of yourself is the most important thing after a car accident. It’s easy to become overwhelmed and stressed out by the whole process but don’t lose hope. Take time to relax, talk to friends and family, and focus on your physical and mental health so you can recover from the accident.
You should also keep a journal to document your thoughts, feelings, and experience throughout the entire process. Writing can be therapeutic and serve as a reminder that everything will pass eventually.
Hopefully, these tips have been useful. If you ever find yourself in the unfortunate situation of being involved in a car accident, use this guide to help protect yourself and get back on the road as quickly and safely as possible.
And remember that if you need any help, there are many resources available to assist you in getting the compensation and support you deserve.
