Although you never expect to be involved in a car accident, these collisions are so common that it is best to be prepared should they ever happen. At that time, you may feel too disoriented and overwhelmed that you may not know how to proceed and may jeopardize your legal rights by not knowing what to do and what not to do. Lawyers Wattel & York have worked with too many clients that made mistakes after being in an accident and they know that, by being prepared, there is no reason why this should happen to you. Read on to find out the five things you should do after being in a car accident.
Table of Contents
1. Stay at the Scene
You may consider the accident to be minor and may be convinced that you sustained no injuries. So, after exchanging information with the other driver, you are ready to go home. Do not leave the scene until police arrive and prepare a report of the accident. Leaving the scene may land you in legal problems you could have avoided if you had stayed. As soon as you can, get a complete medical checkup to make sure there are no hidden injuries.
2. Make Sure Everyone is Safe
Check yourself for injuries and make sure your passengers and the other driver have not been injured. If they have, call 911 and request an ambulance. Also, if the cars are in the middle of the road and risk getting hit by other speeding vehicles, move them to the side of the road after having taken pictures of their damage and their position on the road.
Moreover, if you are all safe and have no visible or physical injuries but feel a minor pinching sensation in your back, neck, or shoulders, you should visit a chiropractor to get relief; Learn More here. Often, the little things that we ignore can turn into significant pains later in life.
3. Exchange Information
Make sure to get all pertinent information from the other driver including their contact details, their insurance policy and driver’s license, and all information on the car like make, model, year, and license plate. Do not engage in conversation with the other driver and do not make deals with them. Remember they are not your friends and anything you say to them may later be used against you.
4. Document the Scene
When it comes to filing a claim, there is nothing more valuable than having evidence. The best moment to collect it is while you are still at the scene of the crash. Take pictures of yourself and of your injuries but also of the cars and of anything else that might have played a role in the collision. There might have been oil on the road, overhanging branches from nearby trees, or debris on the road. As soon as you can, write down everything that happened including the date, time, and location. There may be important details that you do not want to forget. Also, if there are any witnesses around, take their testimonies and get their contact information should you need to call them in the future.
5. Call Your Insurance
Your insurance company needs to be informed of the crash. Let them know where you are but avoid signing any documents regarding an amount that you will receive. You need to make sure that your injuries have healed before you can agree to the compensation they are offering. To protect your rights, talk to an experienced accident attorney and tell them your story. Then, let them do all negotiations with the insurance and with the other driver for you.
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