Car accidents can be overwhelming and frightening experiences for anyone who goes through them, and depending on the severity, a car accident can turn a person’s life upside down in a matter of minutes.
Therefore, knowing what to do immediately after an accident is critical. Many people do not think about this, but if we consider the importance of certain aspects of the accident that could help you in your personal injury claim, it makes perfect sense that it is one of the most important topics to be familiar with.
Check for injuries
First and foremost, check yourself and others to see if anyone is injured. If anyone is hurt, call 911 immediately before doing anything else. Remember—safety is the most important thing here.
Move your vehicle safely
Once you have checked for injuries and called 911, moving your vehicle to a location where no traffic or cars are passing by is ideal. This helps deal with the aftermath of the accident.
Exchange information
Once you have moved your vehicle and spoken to the police, who will likely have arrived by this point, exchange information with the other driver. Do not apologize or say anything that could come back to hurt you later on.
Understandably, you may feel apologetic, but there will be an appropriate time to express that. However, you want to ensure no one uses anything you say against you in a possible lawsuit.
Document the scene
Documenting the scene, like a detective, is one of the most important things you can do after ensuring everyone’s health is taken care of.
Take photos of the scene, the vehicles involved, the road, any marks the accident may have left and any traffic signs in the area.
Also, take photos and videos of injuries, if there are any. This is critical because an injury will not look the same after it begins to heal.
Notify your insurance company
Notify your insurance company of the accident that took place. State the facts; hopefully, you will already have an attorney by then. If you do, ask the insurance company to speak with your attorney.
Consult a personal injury attorney
One of the most important steps to ensure you get the compensation you deserve is to consult a personal injury lawyer. If you can do this before contacting the insurance company, even better. The sooner you can do this, the better, because the attorney will help and guide you.
Try to stay calm
Stay calm and remember that car accidents happen all the time. Do not feel bad for seeking compensation. This is why laws exist—to protect people hurt in accidents.
Perhaps you cannot go back to work right away, or for a long time and perhaps the accident leaves emotional scars that you will need therapy and medication to get through.
Whatever challenges you face, if the other driver was at fault, you deserve to receive compensation for the harm you suffered.