You have likely driven by an accident. It’s also likely that you know someone who has been in an accident at one point or another. Until you have actually been in an accident yourself, however, you will never really know how jarring of an experience it can be. One minute you are driving and the other minute, there is an impact with another car, a truck, a motorcycle, or some other roadside obstruction. You may be hurt and disoriented. Despite how overwhelmed you are likely to feel after being in an accident, what you do following the accident is very important. Here, we’ll talk about the steps you should take after being in an accident in the hopes that it helps you should you ever find yourself in such a position.
Steps to Take After Being Involved in an Accident
The first step to take after being involved in an accident is to take a deep breath and try to calm yourself. Try to focus on what just happened, where you are, and how you are feeling. If you are somewhere unsafe, such as the middle of the road, get to safety as soon as possible.
After you are in a safe place, call 911. Police will be dispatched to the scene as will an ambulance or another emergency medical vehicle to tend to anyone who may have sustained injuries in the accident. When the police arrive at the accident scene, they will want a statement from you. Be careful what you say as even the most seemingly innocent statement may be later twisted in order to implicate you in causing the accident or something else that could work against you should you bring a personal injury claim later on. Only answer what is asked of you and avoid speculation.
Depending on your injuries, you should try to gather and document as much as possible at the accident scene. This may include taking pictures of the accident scene, the property damage sustained, and your injuries. Additionally, you should get the names and contact information for any witnesses to the accident. They can be invaluable later on to corroborate your account of what happened in the accident.
After an accident, you will also need to call your insurance company and inform them that you were involved in an accident. Oftentimes, there are contract provisions that obligate an insured to inform their insurance company of such occurrences. Failure to notify your insurance company in a timely manner can potentially jeopardize your ability to access your insurance benefits.
Finally, and most importantly, seek immediate medical evaluation after an accident. This is true regardless of how you may be feeling after an accident. You may feel like you are alright. You may feel like you are not too badly injured and can put a brave face on. Accident injuries can be sneaky. Symptoms may not fully present themselves until days or weeks later. Getting emergency medical attention can help you get the treatment you need for your injuries and bring them to light sooner rather than later. Immediate medical attention and consistent follow-up care will also be a critical part of any personal injury claim. Medical records will be key pieces of evidence to support your claim.
Personal Injury Attorney
After an accident, do not delay in reaching out to the trusted personal injury team at BoyesLegal, APC. We will start to work on your claim right away and rigorously pursue your right to full and fair compensation. Contact us today.