What To Do After A Car Accident

Are you the victim of a car accident and unsure of what to do next? The first 24 hours after an accident are often the most crucial, so it is important to learn this information now.

Plenty of people unknowingly make mistakes after an accident. Unfortunately, those mistakes often result in lower settlements or compensation in a lawsuit. We want to help you avoid any potential problems with this brief guide.

Keep reading to learn everything that you need to know from the moments after the crash to when it is time to hire a car accident lawyer.

Get To A Safe Location

Immediately after a car accident, make sure that you are out of the way of further danger. If you experienced the car accident somewhere relatively isolated, you should not be . However, if you are on a busy road, safely pull to the side of the road if you can.

If your car cannot move, be careful when you are trying to get out to assess the situation. Your first priority is safety, and while most people will do whatever they can to avoid hitting your car, not everyone is as careful as they should be.

Once you know that your car is safe, you can proceed.

Check On Everyone Involved

Next, make sure that everyone is okay (including yourself). If you have other passengers in the car with you, make sure that you check in with everyone before moving forward.

It is also a good idea to check on the other party as well, even if they were at fault. Accidents happen and you do not want anyone to be hurt even if they hurt you or damaged your vehicle.

Exchange Information

While you are at the scene, make sure that you exchange information with the other driver. You want contact information and insurance information, and you want to take note of the details of their car.

This is also a great time to collect any contact information from other people who were at the scene, like passengers from nearby cars, from the other person’s car (if applicable), or even witnesses from the street.

You might need to contact these people again if you decide to take this situation to court.

Collect Evidence

Make sure that you are taking in as much information as possible after the accident. You and your car accident lawyer will need this information once it is time to proceed.

With the fact that we all have cell phones now, it is easier than ever to take photos all over the scene. Photograph your car, the car of the other driver, the area in which the accident took place, and any other accident-related things like debris.

Use your note-taking app to write down anything that seems important about the accident so that you do not forget it later. You are under a lot of stress, so your memory may not be as strong as it normally is.

Talk To A Police Officer

A police officer will come to the scene to take down your information and any statements about the accident. While you should tell them everything that you know, you need to make sure that you do not say anything that could indicate that you are admitting fault (even if you think you are at-fault).

This can be tricky. You want to avoid self-incrimination, but you also want to give a detailed account so the officer can give a detailed report. Something as small as saying that you have anxiety could be enough to harm you later down the line.

When in doubt, say nothing aside from the basic facts. You do not have to say anything without a lawyer present.

Make sure that you get a copy of the accident report and scan it for errors.

Seek Medical Attention

This step is going to vary depending on your situation. You want to do it as soon as possible, especially if the accident requires emergency attention.

You should seek medical attention even if you do not feel injured immediately after you accident. When you are in a stressful situation – like a car accident – your body floods with adrenaline. Adrenaline stops you from being able to feel pain. Even if you feel fine at first, you might discover later that you have contusions, fractures, or even internal bleeding.

Seeing a doctor also helps to establish a paper trail. Your medical records become evidence. Not seeking a doctor might make it easier for a lawyer to say that you were not harmed by accident even if you were.

Contact A Lawyer

You need a car accident lawyer if you want a successful lawsuit and a large compensation. Even if you know the accident is not your fault, insurance companies are tricky. You may end up losing an open-and-shut case without the proper help.

A good car accident lawyer will help you navigate the complicated legal system. They will help you compile all of the evidence and information to build your case. In addition, an attorney will advocate for you in the event that your lawsuit ends up in court.

Your lawyer wants to help you recover the compensation that you deserve. Thankfully, you do not have to do this alone.

Have You Been In A Car Accident?

Getting into a car or truck accident is scary, traumatic, and dangerous. It is hard to keep track of what you are supposed to do after an accident, but these steps are important to build your case. Make sure that you do everything that you can to protect your rights.

Is it time for you to seek out a car accident lawyer? We are here to help you. Contact us and tell us about your case so we can start working together to get you the justice that you deserve.