Regardless of how safely you drive, a car accident can happen at any time. Whether it's a minor fender bender or a serious collision, the aftermath of a car accident can be terrifying, stressful, and overwhelming to those involved. But amidst the myriad of emotions and uncertainties, knowing what to do after a car accident is crucial for your personal safety and the complex legal process awaiting you.
This post will provide an in-depth review of the various steps you should take to protect yourself and your legal rights after a car accident.
Stay Calm and Remain at the Accident Scene
In the event of a car accident, keeping a cool head will make it easier to deal with the aftermath. It's also advisable to remain at the accident scene until the authorities arrive and exchange contact information with everyone involved in the crash. If you leave the accident scene before then, you risk being charged with a hit-and-run offense.
Watch What You Say
Regardless of how you feel or what you think may have caused the crash, keep everything to yourself and don't apologize after a car accident. Even if you believe you're at fault for the accident, you shouldn't admit fault to anyone.
If you admit fault to the other driver at the accident scene, your words can be used against you by the insurance company. This can prevent you from recovering financial compensation for all the damages you've incurred after the car accident.
Additionally, avoid making any promises to the other driver or anyone else involved in the accident. Instead, leave it to the authorities, insurance companies, and your lawyer to determine who is at fault for the crash.
Check Yourself and Others for Injuries
Immediately after a car accident, ensure you check yourself and any passengers in your vehicle for injuries. If it's safe to do so, check on the other driver and their passengers for injuries. If anyone has sustained injuries in the crash, call 911 so that an ambulance and police officers will be dispatched to the accident scene.
If anyone involved in the crash is unconscious or has a severe head injury, do not move them until a qualified medical professional arrives at the scene. It's not advisable to provide any medical assistance beyond your training. You may easily exacerbate a person's injury by trying to help them.
Move to Safety
If your injuries are fairly minor and your vehicle is still operational, carefully move it to the other side of the road, away from oncoming traffic. Ensure you keep your hazard lights on and light up flares to alert other drivers of the accident. Doing so will help manage the speed of oncoming traffic and even assist emergency responders and police officers in their attempt to reach the accident scene.
If the vehicles are too damaged to be moved safely, set up emergency reflective triangles to alert other drivers of the accident scene. Afterward, get yourself and others involved in the crash to a safe spot away from the road.
Document the Accident Scene
After a car accident, be sure to collect as much evidence as possible. Use your mobile phone to take pictures of your injuries and injuries of your passengers, nearby traffic signals, damage inflicted to your vehicle's interior and exterior, road conditions, the other driver's license plate number, skid marks on the road, and the surrounding area.
These pictures will serve as irrefutable evidence of what may have caused the accident and the extent of injuries and property damage you've suffered as a result of the crash. If there are cameras near the accident scene, note their location and who you'll need to contact to access the footage of the accident.
Exchange Information
Before leaving the accident scene, note down the names, phone numbers, addresses, license plate numbers, and basic insurance information of everyone involved in the accident. If the other driver does not own the vehicle, ensure you note the owner's contact information. You should also write down the make, model, and year of all vehicles involved in the crash.
If there are any witnesses present at the accident scene, note their names and contact information. During the claims process, your insurance company or lawyer may require witness testimonies to confirm you're telling the truth about the events leading to the accident.
Notably, if the other driver involved in the crash refuses to exchange contact and insurance details, wait for the police officers responding to the scene to assist you.
Call the Police
If you already called 911 to request Emergency Medical Services (EMS), police officers will likely be dispatched to the accident scene. Even if no one appears to be seriously injured and the property damage seems minor, you should still call the police after a car accident. Once the police officers arrive at the scene, they will speak to everyone involved in the crash, get eyewitness statements, and prepare a police report.
Once the police officers arrive, ensure you cooperate fully and answer their questions to the best of your knowledge. The police officers' documentation of the events that led to the accident can help strengthen your claim against the at-fault driver and increase your chances of receiving full compensation for your losses.
Before the police officers leave the accident scene, ensure you get their names and badge numbers and get a copy of the police report, if possible. If the police officers cannot come to the accident scene, you can always file a report yourself at the local police station.
Seek Medical Attention
Immediately after leaving the accident scene, ensure you see a doctor. Doing so will help prevent exacerbation of your injuries and ensure you recover sooner. Additionally, a detailed account of your medical treatment will help strengthen your claim for damages in the near future.
If you don't see a doctor immediately after the crash, the other driver and their insurer may argue that your injuries were not severe. This will likely prevent you from getting full compensation for your medical expenses in case you decide to file a claim.
Talk to a Lawyer
If you or your loved one has been involved in a car accident, it's best to hire a reputable car accident lawyer in your area. Such a lawyer will help protect your legal rights and increase your chances of recovering maximum financial compensation for your damages.
Take the Necessary Steps to Protect Yourself After a Car Accident
Although navigating the aftermath of a car accident can be terrifying and stressful, following the above steps can ensure a smoother resolution. By remaining calm, exchanging information with all involved parties, prioritizing medical attention, and seeking legal advice, you're more likely to recover financial compensation for all damages you've incurred after the crash.
