Accidents are unpredictable and can happen anytime, especially when you are on the road. According to a recently released report, more than 6 million car accidents are reported in the United States annually. Luckily, most of them involve property damage as opposed to human injuries and deaths. There are many ways to avoid a car accident, but if it happens, it is essential to know the steps you should take after that.
From contacting a Polk County injury lawyer (or one like it), to speaking with your insurance company.
This piece will focus on what to do after they are involved in an accident so you can protect yourself, your rights and interests.
Stop The Car
In the event you are involved in an accident, never drive away. Stop your vehicle and compose yourself. Even if it is not a major accident, it would be logical to stop the car, get out and involve yourself in clearing the scene.
Determine The Extent Of Property Damage Or Injuries
Humanity comes before property. Check to see if you have any visible injuries before proceeding to check other parties involved in the accident. If any of the parties is severely injured, see to it that they get urgent medical care. On the part of the property, you could check to find out if your car has any major damages. If it is damaged beyond the ability to pull it over to the side, you might want to wait until the police arrive. In the meantime, you need to put up a sign on the road and set up flares or flashes on to alert other road users that there is an accident as they approach your end.
Call The Police And A Reliable Auto Injury Lawyer
Calling in the police means you are making a legal accident report. Even if there are no major injuries and damages, it is essential to have the cops on your side when filing a claim with your insurance firm. Because of the complexity of liability in a car accident, it’s also essential to contact a reputable car accident lawyer to help guide you through the process. Doing so can improve your chances of a positive case outcome, as insurance firms will typically try to avoid paying out using loopholes or other technicalities that a legal expert won’t let them get away with.
Limit Contact With The Other Party
Since your story is only one-sided, it is vital that you keep it to yourself to avoid confessing to being liable for the accident. You should only talk to the police, insurance representative and the medics.
Get Your Story Straight
This phase is undeniably the most important when building your case. You should never alter the facts. Compose yourself and go through your account as it happened after shutting down all the stress from the accident.
Once the police arrive, be sure to narrate the ordeal as it happened to the best of your ability and memory. If you can’t recall specific facts requested by the officer, tell the officer so. Do not guess, misstate or suggest something that you are not sure of. The statement you give to the officers and insurance representative can be used against you, so make sure it is all factual. Once the other party is also composed and stable from the shock, you may request to see if their statements are accurate.
Take Pictures Of The Accident Scene
Taking pictures of the accident scene is legal. You may use your mobile phone to capture details that you think may help you with the insurance claim. The pictures should clearly show evidence of the damage on the vehicle. If you have injuries, visible ones for that matter, take photos of them as well. Nonetheless, this is only legal after the police are done with collecting evidence. If you are not allowed to take them at the scene of the accident, be sure to take them as soon as things cool down and before the cars are towed or driven off.
Gather Information
Usually, it is the sole responsibility of the investigating officer to gather information about the accident. However, this shouldn’t stop you from gathering details that could act to your advantage. You could also note down the description of the other party’s car and its license plate number. Their insurer and vehicle identification number might also come in handy. Ask for their contact numbers, names and home addresses. If you spot any witnesses around the vehicle accident scene, ask for their contact information as well. Witnesses may prove to be very important when the case gets to court. When the police show up, they should hand you their contact numbers for easy follow up with the police reports. It is advisable that you keep close contact with the police handling your case for proper follow up procedures.
Notify Your Insurance Company About The Accident
Once you have settled the main priorities, contact your insurance company and notify them about the accident and all events leading to the unfortunate event. Many insurance policies demand that the clients commit to giving information and full cooperation. Depending on your insurance plan, you will report if you have any medical emergencies and the state of the car after the accident. Your claims should go hand in hand with the terms and conditions you signed up for at the beginning of the contract.
Go For A Medical Check-Up
Even if you don’t feel pain or see any cuts or injuries, it is recommended that you see a physician for a quick medical check-up if you are hurt in a car accident. Often, injuries from car accidents aren’t apparent until after a day or two after the accident. You have probably heard of patients who ignored check-ups after an accident and ended up succumbing to death due to internal bleeding or other underlying conditions. Ensure that your doctor examines you and passes you fit.
Protect Your Rights
This is probably the most important phase after being involved in an accident. Whether it is your first time in an accident or the tenth, you will need legal guidance from a car accident personal injury lawyer. Your lawyer will protect you against violation of your rights and even go out to ensure you are compensated in the case of emerging feuds. When you are writing a statement, it is important to have your attorney by your side. Your lawyer will help you understand the law and your likelihood of winning the case.
Until your case is over and your claims rightfully awarded, the legal process might be daunting. Luckily, you can involve an experienced attorney to guide you through as you fight for compensation. Contact your local car injury law firms to have a competent car accident personal injury lawyer to represent you.