A car accident is a traumatic experience, both for you and the other people involved. The last thing you want to do is spend hours arguing with an insurance company, or trying to figure out how to get your car fixed.
There are many different types of accidents, from slip-and-fall to auto. Regardless of the type, you may be left with medical bills, property damage, and even lost wages while you recover. If you’re injured in a car accident, it might be tempting to handle matters on your own. However, there are certain steps that you shouldn’t take without consulting a car accident lawyer.
Here are some tips on what to do immediately after a car accident.
Call the police
If someone is injured and there has been damage to property, call 911 immediately. If no one has been injured or it’s not clear whether someone is hurt, call the police anyway. You should make sure they know that this was a car accident, not just two cars bumping into each other.
If someone is still inside their vehicle, call 911 immediately so that police can direct traffic away from the scene while awaiting emergency response personnel.
Exchange information with other drivers
Get the names, addresses and phone numbers of all drivers involved in the crash (you’re required by law). You also need their driver’s license number and license plate number for each vehicle involved in the accident (if possible).
Make sure everyone gets this information from each other as well. It’s also helpful if you can take pictures of any damage caused by the accident — this will make it easier for you when filing claims for damages later on.
Your insurance company will then send an adjuster to inspect the scene of the accident and assess the damage to both vehicles. The adjuster may also want to speak with witnesses who were present at the time of the crash; if so, make sure they know they’re not obligated to speak with anyone other than law enforcement officials or their car accident lawyer if they don’t feel comfortable doing so.
Get medical attention if necessary
If anyone involved in the crash appears injured (or even if they don’t), get them medical attention as soon as possible. You can’t get insurance coverage for any injuries you suffer in a crash until you get medical attention — even if it’s just to make sure you’re not hurt.
Take Photos
It’s important to take pictures of all damage on both cars involved in the crash so that you have evidence of what occurred should you need it later on. Take pictures of any skid marks on the road (they could indicate braking before impact) and any visible damage on other vehicles or property near the scene of the crash.
The police officer will also take pictures for evidence so don’t worry about getting yours “right” — just get them as soon as possible after the collision occurs so that they accurately depict how things looked before anyone moved anything around!
In the end, if you’re involved in an accident and need legal help, it’s essential to know where to turn. Fortunately, with the right car accident lawyer on your side in these situations, you’ll have all of your bases covered. So don’t wait to look into hiring a car accident lawyer from Tuttle Law, P.A. when it comes to your legal rights after an automobile accident, you can’t afford to waste any time.