If you, like most Americans, are an everyday driver, the chance of being one of the millions of people involved in car accidents each year are startlingly high. While you should certainly drive safely and make every attempt to prevent an accident, knowing what to do after you get into a car accidentis just as, if not more, important. Being aware of the appropriate steps to take in the immediate aftermath of a car accident— as well as further down the road— can turn a major disaster into a manageable debacle.
What To Do Immediately After You Get Into a Car Accident
The first steps to take following an accident include taking stock of any damage to your person, passengers, or vehicle; calling the police; and exchanging information with the other driver.
First, make a quick assessment of yourself: do you notice any immediate pain? Blood, or loss of sensation? If you are capable of moving around, check in with your passengers and the other car’s occupants. Is everyone conscious, or is someone seriously injured?
In the event of a life-threatening injury to you, a passenger, or someone in the other car, skip straight to calling emergency services.
Generally, all vehicles involved in the accident should stay where they are until the police arrive. However, if the accident occurs in a major traffic area (such as on an interstate), getting your car and yourself out of the middle of the road is a good idea— if the vehicle (and those inside) are undamaged enough to move. Pull the car onto the shoulder or other nearby, out-of-the-way area and cut the engine. Turn on hazard lights or set up road flares to alert passing cars of the obstruction, particularly at night.
If your car is too damaged or someone in the car cannot be moved without potentially causing further hurt, stay put until emergency services arrive— although road flares and hazard lights should still be set up and turned on if someone is physically capable of arranging this.
Informing the Police After a Car Accident
Even if the accident was just a fender bender, the police should still be informed. In fact, Allstate reports that calling the police, no matter how minor the accident, is a law in some states. If the accident is relatively mild, officers may not respond to the scene. If the police do not come at the time of the accident, go to the police department and file a report. Either way, your insurance will want this information when you file a claim and the information could be important later if you choose to file a lawsuit.
Throughout all of this, take note of as much information as you can. The police officers will have a lot of questions, and forgetting details is surprisingly easy in instances of extreme duress, especially if there is a head wound involved. However, and this is very important, you must not admit blame or accept fault. You should never admit responsibility, according to The Balance, because not only can claiming liability turn out to be extremely harmful later if you choose to commit to a car accident lawsuit settlement, but car insurance contracts actually include such a requirement.
You can, of course, explain the events of the incident without doing so. If you do not know the answer to an officer’s question, don’t lie; say, “I don’t know.” Similarly, when asked if you are injured, if you do not notice any discomfort or injury yet, Ury & Moscow LLC, Attorneys and Counselors at Law advise against stating you are not injured. Rather, inform the questioner you do not know.
Exchanging Information After a Car Accident
Regardless of whether or not a police officer is present, exchanging information with the other driver is absolutely one of the most important things to do after you get into a car accident. This exchange is even more critical than you might think because a police report may not include all of this information. The most important data to record for your records include:
- Full name, phone number, and/or address;
- Insurance company’s name and driver’s policy number;
- Drivers license number;
- License plate number and description of car; and
- Where the accident occurred.
While you are gathering information, make a point of taking photographic evidence of any damage to the vehicle or injury to yourself or your passengers. Keep all of this documentation (along with a copy of the police report and the medical examination you will later undergo) all together in one place where you can easily access it and provide your lawyer with it later if necessary.
What To Do In the Weeks After You Get Into A Car Accident
Getting a Doctor’s Exam
In the days following a car accident, you will find that you definitely need to see a doctor and may need to see an injury attorney. Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. note that several days may pass before you notice any soreness or stiffness, because it can take time for the accident to catch up with your body. Of course you should be examined immediately by emergency services if you are seriously wounded, but head to the doctor’s office in the next few days to get checked up, especially if you notice any pain or other signs of injury from the accident — but do it even if you don’t notice anything unusual. This is particularly important because neck and back injuries (as well as other common car-accident-related injuries) as a result of a car accident may continue to get worse — and continue costing you money in doctor’s bills or missed wages. Furthermore, if you want the medical costs of any Car wreck injury claims covered by your own or the other driver’s insurance, a trail of medical paperwork to prove the issue exists as a result of the accident can make recompense much easier.
Car Wreck Injury Claims
After filing a police report, reporting to your insurance, and having a medical exam, it might be time to call an accident injury lawyer. According to AllLaw, different states have different statutes of limitations on car accidents, but most states require filing a lawsuit for car wreck injury claims to take place within two years. This means calling an attorney sooner rather than later is most certainly in your best interests. Furthermore, having a lawyer on your side provides you with someone to collect information, field insurance agents, and handle other accident-related issues.
Many lawyers are only paid if your case wins, which means unless your settlement or trial is successful, you shouldn’t expect to be out thousands of dollars to work with an injury attorney in a car accident lawsuit settlement.
Have you suffered from a car wreck in Kansas? If you are ready to receive the money you deserve for pain and suffering received from a car accident, call Kansas Injury Recovery Institute today or visit our website for a free consultation!
