Being involved in a car accident can be a traumatic and stressful experience, especially if you were not the one at-fault. While it is no secret that car crashes happen on a daily occurrence in the United States, many people do not know what steps should be taken following an accident. Sure, contacting the police and exchanging insurance and necessary personal information with the other driver is a given, but what else? If your injuries are severe, it is imperative that you get to a hospital right away and are examined by a medical professional. This is a critical step, both for health and legal reasons. If another driver was distracted, negligent, impaired, or acted recklessly and you are pursuing legal recourse, the doctor’s testimony could make or break the case. In addition to being checked out by a doctor, there are a handful of other important things to do both at the scene of the accident and soon afterward.
In order to alleviate some stress on your end, we recommend you contact a car accident attorney from Rad Law Firm as soon as possible. Our personal injury attorneys have extensive experience handling these types of cases and have offices conveniently located in both California and Texas. We understand how overwhelming a car accident can be, which is why we are here to make sure you don’t have to suffer through vehicle damage, injury, or emotional trauma alone. Below we will go over a few things you should do after an accident, if possible.
Stay Calm
This can be difficult, especially if the accident was serious and happened in the blink of an eye. However, losing your temper will not help the situation. By staying calm and focusing on the task at hand, you will have a better chance of getting the results you were looking for.
Check for Injuries
Your health and wellness is of the utmost importance, which is why one of the first things you should do after a car accident is check yourself and your passengers for injuries. If anyone is injured, call an ambulance right away. It is important that you do not skip this step and think that you are ‘fine’, as some injuries may not be something the naked eye can see.
Call the Police
Depending on the extent of damage and seriousness of the accident, you will need to call the police. If another driver was at-fault, ask that a police report be filed and jot down the responding officer’s information so that you can follow up on the case.
Exchange Personal Information
Emotions are undoubtedly running high and your adrenaline may have taken over, but it is crucial that you get the names, numbers, addresses, driver’s license numbers, license plate numbers, and basic insurance information from each and every single driver involved. It may also be a good idea to obtain personal information from any passengers, just in case. One quick note, never apologize for anything at the scene! In doing so, you may accidentally be admitting liability for what happened, even if you weren’t actually in the wrong.
Inform Your Insurance Provider
As soon as you have taken care of all the above steps, contact your insurance company. Do your best to cooperate with them and tell them the truth of what happened, as best as you can remember it. By clearly explaining the facts and being forthcoming right from the start, you will have a far better chance of getting reimbursed and compensated for the damages sustained.
Contact Rad Law Firm
The police officers and insurance companies should begin an investigation of your car accident right away, and a car accident attorney from Rad Law Firm will work alongside them to ensure your rights are protected. Not only will we make sure your best interests are keep represented, but we will handle all communications with authorities and the insurance companies. When the time comes to make a claim for your auto accident injuries, we will advise you about how to proceed. To set up a free consultation with one of our car wreck attorneys, contact Rad Law Firm today.