Being involved in a car accident is stressful on several levels. Both the mental and physical challenges afterward can be overwhelming. Knowing what to do after an accident can help you move through the process without overlooking any important aspects. Explore these top tips from the experts so that a fair resolution can be achieved.
1. Pull Over
The first step should be automatic: pull your vehicle to the side. An auto accident is presumably in the middle of the street. Pulling the car onto the shoulder will protect you from other cars on the road.
Never drive away from an accident even if it’s a minor one. You’re responsible for any incidents on the road. Leaving the scene is considered a hit-and-run situation by any car accident personal injury lawyer.
In severe cases, you may not be able to pull the car over to the shoulder. Simply remain in the car until help can arrive.
2. Take Account of Your Personal Health
Before emerging from the vehicle, take a look at yourself. Verify if you feel ill or injured. Experiencing dizziness, noticing bodily fluids or sensing pain are all indicators that you require a medical professional. Use your cellphone to contact an ambulance if necessary.
Nothing is more important than your health. Remain in the car if you’re concerned about moving your body. A back injury can be a debilitating issue.
Be sure to check on your loved ones in the car too. Any injuries must be reported to emergency personnel. They should be documented and prioritized. Any other steps after an accident can wait until you or your loved ones are stabilized.
3. Ask About the Other Parties
If you have few or no injuries, emerge from the car and ask about the other parties. Emotions will be high, but consider the importance of being a good person at this point. If anyone is hurt, assist them with a call to first responders. Don’t move anyone on your own unless the situation is dire, such as a car fire. Injuries can be negatively impacted by your actions.
Avoid any discussions about injury types or levels of pain. Anything that’s said at the accident scene might be brought up by a good auto injury attorney in the future. Stick to basic conversations after the accident.
4. Contact the Police
Always contact the police after an accident. They act as an unbiased party and witness to the accident scene. In many cases, they’re necessary to keep everyone safe as cars pass by the site.
The police will take statements from everyone involved with the accident. Be truthful about your statement regardless if it’s good or bad. The truth will ultimately come out. The police will often survey the accident site in order to verify the stories being told.
You’ll receive a police report from these discussions, which are critical to any legal proceeding that follows the accident. These reports are held in high regard by lawyers and judges alike. Be sure to keep a copy for your records.
5. Snap Photos
The advent of the cellphone camera has made auto accidents easier to document than ever before. As you wait at the scene, pull out your camera and snap photos. Take pictures of the cars from various angles. Shoot wide shots of the entire intersection or roadway. No detail should be overlooked. You might even take a picture of the sky to show the weather of the day.
Photos of the road signs, such as stop or yield markers, can also help your case. Every angle of the scene tells a story to both the police and auto-accident lawyers.
6. Collect Information
The most basic step to remember at the scene of an auto accident is writing down everyone’s information. Take down names, phone numbers, addresses and policy numbers. You can also snap photos of insurance cards and driver’s licenses if that’s easier for you.
You can contact the opposing party’s insurance carrier to verify if the policy is in effect. Calling them at the scene is a good idea so that any discrepancies can be cleared up on the spot.
7. Don’t Talk About the Accident
It’s only natural to talk about a stressful event after it happens, but refrain from these conversations. Don’t talk about any detail surrounding the accident unless a police officer is questioning you. He or she is the only individual who should hear your account.
If you talk about the accident, you might verbally take the blame. This statement can be held up in a court of law. A car accident personal injury lawyer can use this information to place the fault in your corner.
Ideally, no one should discuss fault, potential damages or possible injuries. You can’t accurately state that you feel fine after an accident; injuries can appear hours or days afterward.
8. File a Claim
Once the accident has been documented, you can leave the site. Try to relax and think of the next logical step. Contacting your insurance company should be a priority. File a claim with your auto insurance and possibly the medical insurance. Speak to a representative at each company so that you can get an idea of coverage and options.
Filing a claim doesn’t produce monetary funds right away, but it gets the process moving ahead. You want to cover your expenses as quickly as possible. This fact is especially true if the opposing party’s insurance is covering your losses. Being in contact with them is even more important than your insurance company.
9. Speak to a Legal Representative
Regardless of the incident’s severity, contacting a Los Angeles accident attorney is essential. It’s difficult to know about the finer details of law, especially if you’re recovering from any injuries. Legal representatives, such as attorneys at West Coast Trial Lawyers, can explain every detail of your case. They can determine if you deserve more than just coverage for the vehicle’s damages and medical bills.
Without an experienced lawyer, your rights may not be upheld during the insurance claim and recovery. No one should have to struggle with doctors, mechanics and insurance adjusters. Allow the legal experts to cover these areas as you focus on yourself.
10. Keep up With the Investigation
Your Los Angeles accident attorney will take the reigns as you recover from the incident. Every detail should be moving along in your favor, such as medical bills being covered and car repairs completed. You’re welcome to contact the lawyer as you discuss accident details and further steps in the process. These professionals understand that accidents aren’t an everyday occurrence for you. They’ll walk you through the next steps.
You’ll have a good idea of when payments from insurance companies are coming in and how to cover your personal costs. In many ways, your attorney eases the strain of organizing these details. They can get the insurance companies and repair facilities to move expeditiously on your case so that your life can return to normal.
Contact West Coast Trial Lawyers for additional information today. You have rights when it comes to car accidents. An auto injury attorney can protect those rights and cover your costs. It’s possible to move forward from an accident with fairness and legal protection on your side.
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