Being involved in a car accident can make it difficult to think clearly. It is important that you know what to do if you are involved in such a traumatizing sudden event.
Even if you’ve already been in an accident, some of these points might help you to decide where to go from here. You should make sure that you plan carefully so that you don’t do anything that might impact your ability to seek compensation.
Is there anything I should do at the scene?
Your actions at the scene depend on the severity of your injuries. If you are able to do so safely, get the contact information for the other driver involved. You also need to get the insurance and driver’s license information from that driver. You should try to get contact information for anyone who saw the accident. If you can, get some pictures of the scene of the accident. Pictures of the actual crash might prove to be very helpful if you opt to pursue compensation.
What statements should I make?
Any statement you make must be factual, so don’t try to lie about what happened. What you don’t want to do is to say anything that might be considered an admission of error. This could include apologizing that the accident occurred. Just be careful when you speak to anyone about the accident, including police officers, insurance company representatives or other parties involved. If you don’t feel comfortable speaking to the insurance company, you can choose to let your attorney handle those conversations.
Should I seek medical care?
If you suffered serious injuries, you should likely ask for an ambulance to take you to the hospital for medical care. If you weren’t seriously injured, you can still have the ambulance take you to the hospital or you can seek medical care on your own. Generally, you should have a medical evaluation after a car accident even if you don’t think you were injured. Not only does this help you to ensure your health is protected, but it also ties the injuries to the accident through the medical record.
What kinds of options do I have for seeking compensation?
You might opt to turn to the insurance company for compensation to help with certain aspects of the accident, such as repairing your vehicle. You might also decide to seek compensation from the other driver or other parties for other damages, such as missed wages. All of these possibilities must be carefully considered.
Source: Nov. 30, -0001
