Getting involved in a car accident is both scary and confusing. That is why a car accident lawyer is here to share about the steps you can take directly after a car accident. Our hope is that this blog will help take some of the fear and confusion away after the accident.
This blog post is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not meant to act as a substitute for legal advice. If you want legal advice about your particular accident, set up a free consultation with a licensed and experienced personal injury attorney.
Steps To Take After A Car Accident
If you are involved in a car accident, focus on completing these first steps as shared by our friends at Herschensohn Law Firm, PLLC:
- Call 911. Calling 911 helps in a couple of ways. First, it notifies law enforcement of the accident. They can dispatch one or more units to create an accident report and to help keep the situation calm. Second, first responders will also be dispatched. Anyone who needs emergency medical care can get it. Everything will be documented for your case.
- Trade information with the other involved party or parties. This includes contact information and insurance information. If the scene is contentious, the police can help you with this. Besides writing the information down, take photos of it too. It is very easy when you are scared and/or injured to not write something down correctly like a phone number.
- Document the scene. If you can and it is safe to do so, use your cell phone to document the scene. This includes and may not be limited to taking photos of the accident scene, the involved cars, the weather conditions, and your injuries. Taking time to do this can be very helpful if you plan to file a personal injury claim. It can also be beneficial to provide the pictures to the insurance company. Videos are a huge help too.
- Get medical care as soon as possible. If you don’t think your injuries warrant a trip to the emergency room, you should still get checked out. You can go see your primary care physician or to an urgent care facility. This is important because you may have injuries you don’t feel because of the adrenaline pumping through your veins. You could have internal injuries that have few to no obvious symptoms. It is not required for a case to be taken to a medical facility by an ambulance. So long as you seek medical treatment, that is what counts.
- Schedule a consultation with a personal injury lawyer. They can advise you of your rights. They can also help you when you’re dealing with the insurance company.
These are a brief outline of the first few steps you should take if you are ever involved in an accident. Remember, contact an attorney near you to get help on your case immediately in order to get the compensation that you deserve for your injuries.