What to Do Immediately After a Car Accident
Being prepared for a car accident is essential if you are injured and want to maximize your opportunity for a satisfactory settlement of your claim. Having all your insurance and identifying information readily available is vital, but there are some commonsense things to do once you are in an accident.
Check on All Drivers and Parties
Immediately after the collision, ensure that everyone in your car is safe and not at risk. Immediately call 911 if there are any injuries or someone is trapped. Do not move anyone unless there is a threat of fire or the person is in desperate need of CPR and you know how to administer it.
Do not Leave the Scene
It is a crime to leave the scene of an accident without exchanging certain information. If someone is injured, you could face serious penalties.
In many cases, the effects of an injury may not appear for several minutes or hours. You may also be in shock so that your injuries are masked while your body recovers. Do not hesitate to ask for medical attention if it is a serious collision and you feel you may have suffered a neck or back injury.
Police
If you are able, give and obtain insurance information, driver’s licenses, plate numbers, and addresses with all motorists involved. If there are injuries and the police are coming, that information can be obtained from a subsequent police report.
Only discuss the accident with the police. Give the investigating officer your best estimates of your observations, including times and speeds, but do not guess. The officer should provide you a card or other information you can use to obtain a copy of the accident report or give it to your car accident attorney.
Your Own Investigation
Keep a camera in your car or take photos with your cell phone of the vehicles and of the site of the accident. Talk to any witnesses and get their names and phone numbers and let the police know their identities.
Call an Attorney
If you are injured, you need to contact a car accident attorney immediately. Your attorney will immediately meet with you and explain the procedures involved and will contact your insurance company to establish a claim for you. A Houston personal injury attorney will have the necessary knowledge and experience to handle your claim. Contacting him or her at the earliest stages of your case is the best way to ensure you will get full value for your claim.
Car accident attorneys will also contact the adverse party’s insurer to set up your injury claim and to shield you from any contact from the insurer who do not have your best interests in mind. You will be advised to not discuss your accident with anyone except with your attorney.
Get Prompt Medical Attention
Getting prompt medical care is very important. Many injuries worsen over time, especially if victims fail to get immediate care. Also, insurance companies are suspicious of accident victims who delay obtaining treatment for whatever reason.