Do You Know What To Do After A Serious Car Accident?
The steps you take in the hours and days following a serious car accident can have a huge impact on whether or not you are ultimately able to collect the compensation that you deserve. Unfortunately, during the chaos that often follows an accident, it can be easy to forget what you should and should not do. That is why it is recommended that you print out a copy of the do's and don'ts outlined below and place it in your glove box. This will ensure that you always know precisely what to do in the event that an accident does occur.
Accident Do's
Do have your vehicle towed from the accident scene, even if it can be driven. This will ensure that there is no question regarding when the damage to your vehicle occurred.
Do seek immediate medical attention. Just because you feel fine directly after an accident does not mean that you are not injured. Many crash-related injuries can take hours or even days to fully manifest. In some cases, leaving these injuries untreated could put your life at risk. That is why it is so important to always seek immediate medical attention and rule out the possibility of serious internal injuries.
Do take photographs whenever possible. Within moments of leaving the scene of your accident, this accident scene will be virtually erased. Taking photographs of the scene will allow you to preserve the evidence needed to effectively prove what caused the accident. When photographing the scene, be sure to capture images of all vehicles involved, position of witnesses, weather conditions, and road conditions.
Accident Don'ts
Don't apologize to the other driver. While you may feel badly, especially if the other driver is injured, offering an apology implies that you are liable for causing the accident. While a simple apology may seem harmless at the time, it can be all the insurance company need to challenge liability in your case.
Don't make a statement to the opposing insurance company. While you must report the details of the accident to your insurance company, you are not required to provide the other driver's insurance company with any information. In order to avoid a costly mistake in your case, always avoid contact with this insurance company until after you have consulted an attorney.
Don't wait to contact an injury attorney. While you may not be sure yet that your case will qualify for compensation, waiting to contact an attorney could result in valuable evidence being lost or important deadlines being missed. With most personal injury attorneys offering free initial consultations, there is nothing for you to lose by picking up the phone and contacting a reputable attorney in your local area.
To learn more, contact a company like Stapleton Law Offices with any questions you have.