After a crash, act quickly to protect your right to compensation. A skilled car accident attorney can help.
Being in a car accident is the last thing that most people anticipate. Even if you are a responsible, safe driver, however, you cannot count on everyone else on the road to be as safe as you are. While being involved in a car accident is terrifying, there are steps that you can take immediately after a crash to mitigate further damages and improve your chances of recovering the full value of your losses. For help with your claim, reach out to the lawyers at the office of Bednarz Law immediately today.
1. Check for Injuries and Call 9-1-1
After being in a crash, the first thing that you should do is to move your vehicle to a safe location and then to assess for any injuries on your own person, to anyone in your vehicle, or to any parties in the other vehicle or any pedestrians who may have been harmed. If anyone is injured, it is critical that you call 9-1-1 to report the injuries immediately. In the case of life-threatening injuries, the operator may guide you through what to do.
2. Gather Information at the Scene
If you are not attending to serious injuries, then you should start to gather some information at the scene of the accident while you wait for the police to arrive. Types of information to gather include:
- The name and contact information of the other driver involved in the crash, including driver’s license number and insurance information
- The other driver’s vehicle information, including car make and model and license plate number
- The names and contact information of any witnesses and a brief description of what they saw
- Details about the accident itself, such as time of day, weather conditions, location, the presence of any traffic signs, road conditions, etc.
- Pictures of as many details as possible, such as vehicle’s positions, injuries, damage to vehicle or other objects, etc.
3. Get Medical Care
As soon as possible after a crash, you should get medical care. Getting medical care is important for numerous reasons, including that it helps to mitigate further injuries and ensures that you get the care and attention you need to treat your injuries. In addition to your health and wellbeing, though, seeking medical care is also important for your insurance claim. If you do not seek medical care immediately after a crash and then later try to file a claim for medical expenses, the insurance adjuster will likely question whether your medical bills are really related to your crash.
4. File a Police Report and Notify Your Insurer
If you have not already done so at this point, you need to file a police report as soon as possible. Be sure to request a copy of this report. You should also call your insurance company within 24 to 48 hours of the crash. If you don’t give your insurance company enough time to investigate the crash, it could have grounds to deny your claim.
5. Call an Attorney
Finally, do not hesitate to call an attorney to schedule a free consultation to discuss your legal rights and options for recovering compensation. You can reach the attorneys at Bednarz Law by phone 615-590-7276 or online to get started.