What Should You Do Following a Car Accident?

Monday, February 10, 2020

What Should You Do Following a Car Accident?

Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.

Taking the right actions in the correct order after a car accident can make or break your injury claim. Even a minor car accident can send your adrenaline surging, making it difficult to think clearly and take the appropriate actions. Knowing what to do after a car accident before it happens can help you during this confusing time. When you take these actions, your car accident lawyer can make your claim more successful 

Stop and Assess Injuries

Even if you were in a minor accident, you should always stop. Leaving the scene of an accident is illegal and will make your accident more difficult to deal with. 

Determine if anyone is injured, if so, dial 911 or your local emergency number. If you are seriously injured, stay still and wait for emergency responders to arrive. If you are okay, check on your passengers and the occupants of any other vehicles that were involved. 

Call the Police and Exchange Information

If no one is injured, you should still call the police and file a report of the accident. Many insurance companies require a police report in order to file a claim. Unless they are interfering with traffic, leave the vehicles where they came to a stop after the accident. Doing so can make for a more accurate investigation of the scene and, therefore, police report. 

The law enforcement officer responding to your accident will likely gather the important information from all drivers. You should request a report number from them so that you can obtain a copy when it is finalized. Be sure to tell the officer what happened before, during, and after the accident, but do not guess or speculate. 

However, if the police will not be coming to the scene, which sometimes happens if they are overly busy or if the accident occurred on private property, you will need to exchange information on your own. Be sure to get the other driver’s:

• Auto insurance information such as the carrier name, the policy number, and the phone number
• Make, model, and type of car
• Name and contact information

Collect Evidence

If you are able to, collect evidence at the scene. Technology has made it easy to take pictures of the roads, intersections, cars involved in the accident, and injuries. This evidence can be lost or can change over time, so collecting it at the scene whenever possible can be helpful when a car accident attorney represents your claim. 

Seek Medical Attention

Even if you feel fine immediately after the accident, it is a good idea to be examined by a doctor. This will help protect your legal claims and ensure your health.  The sooner your injuries are documented, the more believable they are, and the harder it will be for insurance companies to prove that they were not the result of the accident.

Call a Knowledgeable Car Accident Attorney As Soon As Possible

Finally, schedule a consultation with a knowledgeable car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Your attorney can advise you as to what steps are next in your case and how much your case could be worth. Once you hire an attorney, they will guide you through the process and speak to the insurance companies for you. 

For your free no-obligation consultation, reach out to Malman Law. We can be reached at (312) 629-0099 or use our online contact form. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can go to work on your behalf.