According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, car crashes occur at the rate of approximately 13 every minute in the United States. It is crucial to know the proper steps to take if you become one of those statistics. There are several important actions to take after being involved in a car crash, but here are the top five:
First Things First, Call 911
Even if your injuries or property damage appear to be minor, you always want official documentation of the incident. Every. Single. Time. The accident documentation will most likely list the at-fault party, making it more difficult for that party to provide an alternate version of the events later. If you do not have the opportunity to involve the authorities, for instance, in a hit and run, always attempt to (safely) get the license plate(s) of any other vehicle(s) involved in the crash. Then, follow up by filing a police report as soon as possible.
Seek Medical Attention
If you feel your injuries need immediate attention, request an ambulance or otherwise seek medical care immediately. The full extent of the injuries that result from a motor vehicle crash rarely manifest themselves at the scene of a crash or even within hours following. However, as time goes on, you may begin to experience pain and discomfort that you did not feel in the moments after the accident occurred. It is of the utmost importance to be examined by a doctor within 24 to 48 hours of the accident and certainly no more than 14 days after the crash. Any longer may affect your rights to compensation.
As previously discussed, shortly after a car crash takes place, you may be unaware of the full extent of your injuries. The stress and adrenaline in the moments after a crash can numb your pain and mask your injuries. It is common for people to “feel fine” at the scene only to experience excruciating pain in the hours and days that follow. Always get checked out, inform the medical provider of any pain or problems you may be experiencing, big or small, and continue treating until you are 100% certain that you no longer need medical care.
Obtain Witness Information
If you don’t require immediate medical attention and you can safely do so, look around your immediate vicinity and see if you can locate any witnesses who may have observed the crash. Speak to those people and attempt to obtain their full names and a good phone number where they can be reached. That way, if your car accident ever results in an insurance claim or a lawsuit, you will have eyewitnesses to recall. If you can encourage the witness to stay on the scene until law enforcement shows up to secure a witness statement, that’s a bonus!
Take Photos and Videos of the Crash Site
You should document as many items as possible. The first of those items include the site of the crash. Take photos and videos of all angles of the following:
- Your vehicle
- Any other vehicles that were involved in the crash
- The road and neighboring areas (to have proof of the state of the premises and the present weather conditions)
- Any debris on the road that may have come from the crash
- Anything else you can think of to memorialize
Even if you do not believe something is important, take a photo of it anyway. You’ll never know what may end up being useful in your claim(s).
Finally, Call an Auto Accident Attorney (It’s Free)
Insurance companies are not your friend, especially those of at-fault drivers. Their main goal is not to compensate you for your losses. Instead, an insurance company’s objective is to pay you as little as possible, often looking for any reason to deny your claim. Attempting to fight an insurance company alone will likely lead to obtaining significantly less money than you are rightfully owed. Insurance companies are skilled in negotiating the lowest possible settlement amount quickly in an attempt to close your case before you even have the opportunity to speak with an attorney.
Avoid discussing the incident and your case with anyone from an insurance company until you’ve spoken with an attorney. As personal injury attorneys, we are trained in the language and tactics utilized by insurance companies and we will advocate on your behalf to obtain maximum recovery. After all, the average settlement is 4x higher when someone hires a personal injury attorney than when they decide to fight their battle alone.
You don’t have to deal with this alone, and because auto accident lawyers operate off of a contingency fee, the lawyers don’t make any money until you do. Consultations with an auto accident attorney are free, and the attorneys at Romano Law Group are ready and willing to advocate for you and your rights every step of the way in your case. If you are ever involved in a car crash, give us a call, and we will be relentless in our fight on your behalf to ensure you obtain every dollar you’re entitled to.
Authored by Mikayla T. Taylor
