A car accident can turn your life upside down in a matter of seconds. Car accidents can lead to various damages, such as property damages, medical bills, lost wages, and so much more. Now, if the accident was not your fault, you have legal rights and options to ensure your legal and financial interests.
This blog lists the steps to take after a car accident to protect your future.
Ensure Your Safety First
The first thing you should do after getting involved in an accident is to prioritize your safety. This means you should check for any visible injuries and possibly move to a safer location close to the accident scene. The thing with vehicular accidents is that they can cause significant damage, such as a gas leak, overheating engines, etc., and such issues could lead to an explosion that causes further damage.
Moving to a safer location also protects you from other vehicles on the road. Once you have checked yourself and others for any injury, call emergency services.
Report the Accident
Once the emergency services have arrived, be sure to cooperate with the teams that arrive. The police will come and do their own assessment and ask for statements from the people involved; make sure that you only state the facts that you are sure you know and don’t make any assumptions. Once they are done, they will make an official police report of the incident, which you can ask for a copy of later, as they are seen as a neutral assessment of the accident.
Also, be sure to inform your insurance company about the accident.
Gather Evidence at the Scene
You will possibly face a lot of damages after experiencing a car accident, so ensure that you get the compensation to cover your damages. Though it is possible for you to get compensation for the damages, you could also face problems with the insurance companies or the defense. Involved parties are likely to employ tactics to delay, decrease, or deny payouts; they may do so by claiming that your damages are exaggerated or that you were the cause of the accident.
To prove the damages that you have faced and that you are not responsible for said damages, you need to gather solid evidence to support your claim.
Here are some types of evidence you can collect from the accident scene:
- Pictures and videos of the accident scene
- Pictures and videos of the damages you suffered
- Pictures and videos of contributory factors (road conditions, weather, etc.)
- Witness statements and other information
The more evidence you are able to gather, the stronger your claim will be.
Seek Medical Attention
Car accidents can have various types of impacts on a person, but one specific danger is hidden injuries. As the name suggests, these injuries may not be visible to the naked eye, but over time, they are likely to cause discomfort or become a bigger problem. To avoid such complications and to prove the link between your injuries and the accident, you need to get immediate medical attention.
Keep a thorough record of all checkups, follow-ups, scans, prescriptions, etc., as they serve as proof of the damages you have faced.
Consult a Personal Injury Lawyer
You might think that a car accident claim is pretty straightforward, but they are quite complex. If you fail to hire a lawyer, you will likely be facing issues with the insurance companies and the defense, compromising your compensation.
By hiring a lawyer, the stress of dealing with the insurance companies and the defense will be off your shoulders, as the lawyer can represent you in all claim-related matters. They can give you a better understanding of your rights, legal options, and the scope of your claim. Lawyers can ensure you get the best possible compensation via negotiation or trial.