We’ve boiled down the action steps you need to take following a car accident to protect your interests.
- Call the police. The other driver may ask that you handle the accident without the police, that you exchange information and call it a day – don’t do this! Call the police and have an investigating officer come to the scene of the accident, take statements of the drivers, passengers, and witnesses, exchange insurance information, and create a report. When giving your statement, be sure to state the facts as you recall, avoid speculation, and don’t answer questions you don’t know the answer to, i.e. if you are not sure if you’ve been injured, indicate that you are not sure.
- Take pictures to document the scene of the accident. Take pictures of your vehicle and the other vehicles involved, the road, sidewalk, and anything else relevant to depicting the scene of the accident. This is your one opportunity to document the scene with all vehicles present.
- Call your insurance company to report the accident. You are likely required to take this step immediately under your policy, so be sure to make this call soon after the accident. You have an obligation to cooperate with your own insurance company, but you are not obligated to work with anyone else’s insurance company. If you are receiving calls after the accident from the adverse party’s insurance company indicating that they want to settle up and send you a check, have them speak to your attorney.
- Seek medical attention. Unless you are 100% sure that you have not suffered any injuries, get checked out at the emergency room or by your physician immediately after the accident or very soon thereafter. Many people are unaware of their injuries immediately following a car accident because of the adrenaline but find that the next day they feel as though they have been hit by a train. Even minor accidents can result in serious, permanent injuries.
That’s it! If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident, call 561-921-5751 or schedule a free consultation. We represent our clients on a contingency basis for personal injury matters, which means you pay nothing unless we recover on your behalf.
Disclaimer: This website and blog contain general information which is not intended to be specific legal advice. If you need specific legal advice, please seek advice from a licensed attorney in your state. Nothing contained on this website or blog is intended to create an attorney-client relationship.
