What to Do After a Car Accident?
Your personal injury attorneys, Accident Attorneys of America offer a guide to what to do after a car accident. Contact us if you’ve been injured in a wreck.
AS SEEN IN
When you or a loved one suffers an injury or wrongful death, you need a lawyer who knows the laws inside out and will fight for you. Our legal team will provide quality representation for your case.
GET YOUR FREE CONSULTATION NOW!
Accidents in Utah
Over two million people are hurt in traffic accidents annually in the US. Car accidents happen one in 366 times for every 1,000 miles driven. If you are involved in an accident, there are a few things you need to do.
The most important thing to do after a car accident involves safety first. If anyone has been injured, call 911 and have the paramedics attend to the injured.
If the vehicles involved continue to threaten other road users and can be moved, move them and switch on hazard lights. Roadside assistance can help to move the cars.
Finally, call the police to the scene. Don’t leave the scene of the accident, even if it is a minor accident, unless it is to receive urgent medical care.
What to Do at the Accident Scene
After an accident occurs, it is also important to do the following:
- Swap contact and insurance company details with the other drivers involved. Make sure you also get the other driver’s insurance company details.
- Document the accident by taking pictures and videos, taking notes, etc.
- Obtaining a police report and police report number from the police
- Getting statements from witnesses
Prioritize Safety Immediately After the Accident
Ensure that all injured people get immediate assistance. Call 911 if anybody requires attention, especially if there are serious injuries. This includes you. Because your adrenaline may be pumping, you may not be aware that you have been seriously injured. So do not forget to check yourself for injuries.
Accident sites can potentially present a danger to other motor vehicles. Ensure that you eliminate this danger, if possible, by doing the following:
Move any cars which could cause further accidents
Put out warning triangles
Move the damaged vehicles as close to the side of the road as possible
Don’t stand between the cars and oncoming traffic
Practical Things to do at the Accident Scene
Immediately following a car accident, you may feel flustered and angry. Don’t be angry, shout, or raise the stress levels of the other driver in the car accident by being aggressive. Instead, try to remain calm and relaxed.
Concentrate your energies on getting everything you need so that you are well prepared to deal with the consequences of the accident.
In the aftermath of the accident, you will likely need to file insurance claims, so you should focus on gathering evidence.
Contact your car accident lawyer as soon after the accident as possible so they can assist you with the preliminary steps.
Exchange Information
It is important to exchange insurance information with the other driver, including the insurers’ contact information. Ensure that you take a picture of the other driver’s insurance card and license. You will need to provide details of your own insurance company to the other driver. In addition to exchanging personal and insurance information, be sure to get the complete contact information of other drivers and vehicle records, such as registration plates.
In addition, if any police officers attended the accident site, you should get their names and badge numbers so that you can easily obtain a copy of the police report. You must submit the accident report to file a car insurance claim with the auto insurance company.
Also, get the contact information and full names of any witnesses present.
All necessary information about you and your car should be kept in your car, including the license plate number, proof of identity, and insurance company phone number. This will make things easier in the case of an accident.
In today’s world, most people carry smartphones with cameras and video functions, as well as note-taking and dictation apps. Use these to take notes at the accident site, which may prove useful later when determining fault.
Make a video showing the overall layout of the area. Photograph any skid marks, potholes, and objects that may indicate how the accident happened. Don’t just photograph your own vehicle but also the damage to others.
Also, record any evidence of property damage. Record your injuries through photos. Dictate notes onto your phone and use the notes to record contact details, witness statements, and the like.
Ask bystanders whether they witnessed the accident; if so, ensure you get their contact details and a statement from them on what happened.
Check the vicinity to see whether cameras exist, such as security cameras. Note their locations and who you should contact to get access to footage.
Preparing for Your Accident Claims
Preparing and gathering all necessary information regarding accident or personal injury claims is crucial. It is vital that you take note of the following information:
Any accident must be reported to your car insurance company, regardless of whether you intend to file a claim
Write down your recollection of events
Get a medical checkup and keep track of medical expenses
Keep accurate records of all expenses related to the accident, including medical costs
Things Not to Do After Motor Vehicle Accidents
Don’t Talk at the Scene
Even if you feel you may have been at fault, do not admit fault to anyone or apologize in any way. If possible, avoid making all small-talk. These statements can be used against you later once the dust has settled. Also, don’t be aggressive or accusatory, claiming it was the other driver’s fault.
Handling the Insurance Company
Car insurance companies do not have your best interests at heart and may use tactics against you that harm your auto insurance claim in the long run. Ensure you keep meticulous records of all expenses and your medical challenges for your claim.
Don’t deal directly with insurance brokers. As part of your legal representation’s services, allow them to handle all insurance communications on your behalf.
Medical Treatment Records
After the accident, don’t forget to get medically checked out at the hospital. If you have been injured, keep detailed records of your visits to the doctors, all medical bills, and a record of your healing process and challenges experienced, including any mental health aspects that may be relevant.
Consider Appointing a Law Firm
If you have been injured and potentially have a personal injury claim, consider appointing personal injury lawyers to handle your claim. You can contact America’s accident attorneys for assistance in various accident claims, not just those involving car accidents.
Talk to an attorney at the Accident Attorneys America today to get started with your accident claim. Call our firm to arrange your free consultation.
