Auto Accident Aftermath: First 5 Steps To Take

A lot of car accidents occur every year in the U.S and some of them involve an auto accident attorney. If you ever get involved in a car accident, there are a few things you should do to protect yourself and your rights. The following is a list of five things you must do immediately after a car accident:

Stop, protect the accident scene, and inform the authorities

Have you ever heard of hit and run car accident stories? They are so true and unfortunate. If you ever cause an accident, never be tempted to drive away from the scene. Even if the accident seems minor, it is more sensible to stick around. Next, try to stop another accident from occurring by using your emergency flashers or keep the lights on. If lights aren't working, use your safety flashlight to warn other drivers about the incident and to keep yourself secure. After that, get in touch with the police even if there are no severe injuries. The police officer will come and gather a report that you can later use to file an insurance claim for car damage or bodily harm.

Collect accurate evidence and share it only with the police

Being at the accident scene gives you a chance to gather firsthand information about what happened. You can take pictures of both vehicles using your cell phone camera; these will serve as proof of damage caused to your own automobile. If you have visible bodily injuries, take a photo of them as well. Once a police officer arrives at the scene, report the matter truthfully and factually. If you have no visible injuries, just say you are not sure if you got injured. This is because the pain and injuries from an auto accident manifest hours after the actual collision. While you shouldn't interfere with the police officer's investigation, you should speak up against the lies told by another witness.

Report the accident to the car insurance company

Most insurance policies require policy holders to report accident cases as soon as possible. It could be that your insurance coverage involves medical benefits. This is good because your accident-related medical bills can be tackled by your insurer. Once you exhaust your medical benefits, you can let your primary health insurer take over. This is where an auto accident attorney could come in and help you get compensated.

Go to the nearest hospital's emergency room

Even if you don't feel or look hurt, you could still be injured. The right thing to do is to seek medical help as soon as you can. If you wait, pain and discomfort might appear 24 or 48 hours after the auto accident. Spinal cord injuries are common even when the impact of an accident is minor. A closed head injury or concussion is also possible if you lost consciousness for a while after the crash.

Present your accident file to a reliable lawyer

After gathering all the necessary information related to your car accident, file it and give it to an auto accident attorney. Ensure that you have included the insurance claim number, the claims adjuster tackling your case, contact details of the other driver and witnesses, a medical bills report, and any other important piece of information. An attorney will ensure that you receive full compensation for auto damage and/or bodily injuries. Unless they win the case, you will not pay a contingency fee to them.

For more information, contact legal professionals like those at Johnson Motinger Greenwood Law Firm.


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