Car accidents are common in the U.S. and can cause many issues ranging from minor disruptions and property damage to serious injuries and fatalities. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are more than 6.5 million police-reported crashes on average each year in the U.S. While many people are involved in motor vehicle collisions each year, many do not know how to react during the immediate aftermath of a collision. Following a car crash, you might experience a rush of adrenaline as a natural part of your fight or flight response, and you might also be in shock. This combination can both mask any pain you might feel while also leaving you feeling confused about what to do.
You must know the right steps to take immediately after a motor vehicle collision. What you do after an accident could affect how well you recover from your injuries and your ability to file a claim to recover compensation for your losses. The other driver might also try to blame you for causing the accident, and if you have not taken the right steps, you could have more trouble trying to defend yourself against a potential claim. Here are five things you should do right after a motor vehicle accident to help you to protect yourself and your ability to recover compensation for your losses.
1. Move to a Safe Location and Call 911.
You likely know that you are supposed to remain at the scene of an accident until help arrives. However, this does not mean that you and your vehicle need to remain in the middle of a road if that is where your accident occurred. Instead, you need to ensure that both you and other motorists will be safe. If your vehicle is still drivable, move it off of the road and onto a shoulder or into a parking lot to prevent other motorists from hitting your vehicle. If you have road flares or traffic triangles and cannot safely move your vehicle, set those up to alert other motorists about your accident so that they will have time to slow down and avoid it. When your loved one needs to transport from one place to another and a ground ambulance is too far and a commercial flight can not occur due to the patient medical needs, https://www.airambulance1.com/ is the choice.
You also need to make sure that you and others involved in the accident move to a safe area away from the road. If fluids are leaking from your vehicle, move away from it. You should move yourself and others off of the roadway as well. If you suspect that someone might have received a spinal cord, back, or neck injury, only move him or her if doing so is necessary to protect him or her from danger.
After you and the other driver have moved your vehicles off of the road and have moved to a place of safety, call 911 to report your accident and summon help. Then, make sure to remain at the accident scene until the police and first responders arrive. If you or someone else sustained serious injuries, make sure to inform the dispatcher and request an ambulance. Provide first aid until help arrives.
2. Exchange Information and Gather Evidence.
Whenever you are involved in a collision, you are required to exchange information with the other involved party, including both your and the other driver’s name, driver’s license information, insurance information, address, phone number, and registration information. You can exchange information with the other driver while you are waiting for the police. It is also a good idea to note the other vehicle’s license plate number, make, model, and color. if you can, take a photograph of the license plate information with your smartphone and store it.
Do not apologize, admit blame, or blame the other involved party. Avoid small talk and simply wait for the police. If the other driver is belligerent, wait in your vehicle for the police with your doors locked and windows rolled up if it is safe for you to do so. The officer can get the other motorist’s information for you in that situation.
You should also try to document the accident and gather evidence. Using your smartphone or digital camera, take photographs and digital video of the accident scene, including the positions of each involved vehicle, the damage to them, the road and weather conditions, tire marks, and any other relevant details. Take more photos than you might think are necessary to document the accident scene. If there are any witnesses, encourage them to remain at the scene to talk to the police, and ask for their names and contact information so that they can be contacted later by your attorney.
3. Tell the Police What Happened.
Once the police arrive, tell them what you remember in the moments leading up to the accident and any observations you might have made about the other driver. For example, if you noticed an odor of alcohol or other behavioral indicators that the other driver might be impaired, tell the officer about your suspicions. When you are talking to the officer, don’t speculate about or embellish what occurred. Stick to the facts, and do not admit blame.
The police officer will complete an accident report, which can provide a roadmap for your attorney when he or she is investigating your case. The report will include information about you, the other driver, and any witnesses. It will also include details about the officer’s opinion of what occurred and information about the officer’s determination of fault. While the police report can provide some good information, it generally cannot be used as evidence in your car accident claim. However, it can be helpful as you are building your claim. Ask the officer when the report will be ready and how to obtain a copy, and make sure to get the report when it is available.
4. Seek Immediate Medical Attention.
The NHTSA reports that an estimated 3 million people are injured in auto accidents each year in the U.S. Even if you do not believe that you have been injured in your collision, you should still seek immediate medical attention. Certain types of auto accident injuries have delayed symptoms that you might not notice for hours or days, but the underlying injuries can still be serious.
If you have apparent injuries, you should take an ambulance from the accident scene to the hospital for emergency treatment. Otherwise, you should see your doctor or go to an urgent care facility as soon as the police officer releases you from the accident scene. Getting prompt medical attention can help you identify any injuries that you might not be aware of and prevent your injuries from worsening.
If you wait to seek treatment, it can also be more difficult to prove that your injuries were caused by your accident. Waiting to seek medical care will likely result in the insurance company disputing that your injuries were caused by your accident. Having an official assessment of your injuries from a doctor right after your accident can help to support your claim. After you have seen a doctor, you should also follow all treatment recommendations you receive and continue attending appointments as recommended by the physician.
5. Consult an Experienced Attorney.
After you have sought medical care for your injuries, your next step is to contact an experienced auto accident attorney. If you are contacted by the at-fault driver’s insurance company, refrain from talking to the representative about your injuries or the accident. Since you do not have an insurance contract with the other driver’s insurance company, you do not have a legal obligation to talk to them. Instead, politely tell the adjuster that you don’t want to give a statement or sign anything until you have had a chance to speak to a lawyer. Anything that you say can be used against you in your claim.
You should choose a personal injury attorney who has experience handling auto accident claims. This type of lawyer should be up-to-date on the laws that are relevant to your case. A lawyer can handle all of the communications with the insurance company for you so that you can work on recovering from your injuries.
Most experienced auto accident attorneys offer free consultations and work on a contingent-fee basis. This means that you should not have to pay anything until and unless the lawyer recovers compensation for you through a settlement or verdict award.
When you go to your consultation, bring all of the evidence you have gathered from your accident, including the police report, the photos and video you took, the names and contact information of the at-fault driver and witnesses, and any medical bills you have received. The attorney can use these types of information to evaluate your claim and help you understand your next steps.
Most people will be involved in at least one accident during their lives. If you know what to do following a collision, it can help to protect your physical well-being and your potential claim. Doing the above-listed things after your accident might help to preserve your ability to recover compensation for your losses while also helping you to recover from your injuries.
Warren James is the lead editor for Diving Daily. Warren has written for many publications including the New York Daily News, Vanity Fair and Yahoo. Warren is based in New York city and covers issues affecting local communities. In addition to following the day-to-day life of the Big Apple, Warren also has a passion for martial arts.