No one plans to get injured in a car accident. You might think that having insurance is enough, but unfortunately that’s not the case. What you say and do following a crash could have a huge impact.
Sometimes, it’s obvious why these things matter. Common sense. Sometimes, though, you need to be aware of how the law works to understand why taking a certain action – or avoiding one – is important.
10 Things You Should Do After The Accident
1. Stop & Analyze the situation and try to get out of the road if possible
Stop and assess the situation immediately. Is anyone injured? How many other vehicles are involved in this accident, and are other people in those vehicles injured? Move quickly but stay calm & get clear of any potential danger. Never leave the scene and never admit fault.
Use flares or keep your hazard lights on to warn other drivers to proceed with caution. Wait in your vehicle while you wait for law enforcement officers to arrive.
2. Call 911 for assistance and immediately report the accident.
This is one of those common sense steps. If you’re injured, you want to summon help as soon as possible in any case. The tricky part is, you may not feel injured at all. Some car accident injuries can take hours or even days to manifest. So, even in a minor fender bender, you should call 911 to report the accident and request police and medical assistance. Never state that you are not injured as you may not feel the extent of your injuries immediately after the accident.
Law enforcement can also help provide a record of the crash, documenting all the relevant details to assist with an insurance claim or a potential lawsuit.
The best course of action after you’ve been in an accident is to call law enforcement officers to come out and document the incident. If medical attention is necessary, they can also call EMTs to the scene.
When the officers arrive, try to describe the accident as accurately as possible for the official police report. This report will give a clear picture of what occurred and will need to be used in insurance claims and potentially court if needed. If you’re unsure of any details, be very clear that you’re not certain. When officers ask if you’re injured, it’s always best to say, “I’m not sure,” initially (unless you are evidently injured), since car accident injuries are often not apparent until a day or two after the accident. Sometimes adrenaline and the chaos of the situation can distract you from the pain and the injuries do not set in immediately, so it’s best to wait and reassess your condition a few days after the accident.
3. Document any damage at the scene immediately.
Begin to record the scene and take pictures of all vehicle damages, license plates of the cars involved. Before or after officers have arrived and taken down the necessary information, it’s a good idea to take photos of the accident and document as much as possible. If you have any visible injuries, take photos of these as well. While photographs can be useful during an insurance claim or investigation down the line, do not interfere with police and only take photos if the situation allows for it.
4. Exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver(s) (if another vehicle is involved in the accident) and collect witness information.
Begin to collect as much information as possible. Typically, if the police are called to the scene of the accident, they will collect each driver’s information. But, they may take some time to get to you or if the accident is minor, you need to ensure that you ask the other driver for his or her information and provide yours as well. You must collect all party’s driver’s licenses and insurance policy information, and vehicle registration. Get witness contact information such as names and phone numbers and record or write down any statements they wish to make.
If the accident is reported to the police, the officer will provide all parties with a police report number, which will be used to access a copy of the police report.
5. Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer immediately
No matter how minor the accident appears to be, it’s always a good idea to consult an experienced personal injury attorney before discussing the accident with an insurance company or accepting any settlement offers. Insurance companies will often make a quick settlement offer that is much lower than you deserve or are entitled to. If you accept this offer, the claim is over, and you will no longer be able to make any other claims for any other damages.
An experienced attorney at The Angeles Law Firm can help you negotiate settlement offers and know when you are getting a fair amount. If negotiations are unsuccessful, we will aggressively defend your right to fair compensation in court.
6. Seek medical attention if necessary
Even if you don’t have any blatantly obvious injuries after the accident, it’s important to check with a doctor. If you don’t want to use the ambulance service or visit the emergency room, you can visit an Urgent Care immediately, or your primary care doctor within a few days of the accident. Many people do not report even feeling the impact of car accident injuries until one to three days later, so it’s best to check for signs of a concussion, internal bleeding or other injuries. Keep any and all billing or discharge paperwork as you will need it for your claim/case.
7. Report the accident to your insurance company to file a claim.
The sooner you report the accident, the more quickly your claim will be able to be resolved. Contact your insurance company in a timely manner to provide all the necessary information and paperwork. You will likely need to provide all the relevant information regarding the accident to your insurance provider such as location (street names), time of day of the accident, involved parties identity, contact information and vehicle information etc.
It is recommended that you do not provide the insurance company a recorded statement or any statement for their records before you consult with your attorney.
Though it is beneficial to get your claim in quickly, most insurance companies will want to take a statement as soon as you call to file your claim. It’s best to consult your attorney before giving information to the insurance company as your lawyer can help protect your rights.
8. Seek an estimate for automobile repairs
Take your vehicle to a body shop for repair estimates. If your vehicle is not operable, have your car towed to a body shop. The insurance company may not pay that entire amount of the estimate. You may have an option to buy it back, or you can look to purchase another vehicle. Get all your personal items out of your vehicle before you leave it anywhere.
9. Be cautious when dealing with insurance companies
Be very careful what you say to an insurance company. Their primary concern is their own pockets and liability. They do not want to pay out for your claim and want to prevent you from getting the medical attention you need and deserve. Do not trust any of their promises to make it right and their eagerness to get you to make statements over the phone regarding your claim. It is very important that you protect your own interests just as the insurance company is doing for themselves.
This is why it is always helpful and strongly recommended having the assistance of an attorney when an individual is dealing with any third parties, especially insurance companies.
10. Maintain your records
Throughout the investigation process, keep any and all records organized and in one place. Claim information, contact numbers and any receipts for expenses related to the accident.
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