Car accidents are jarring and stressful, not to mention the toll it takes on your health and finances as you recover. Fortunately, you can take the necessary steps to protect yourself and ensure accurate and considerable compensation, especially if you did not cause the wreck.
Here are the essential measures you should take if you get involved in a car accident.
Contact Emergency Services
Immediately dial 911 and wait for an emergency response team to arrive at your location. The 911 response personnel may require information on the individuals involved in the accident or any people in dire condition. Ensure you provide accurate location details and mention if anyone might have received critical injuries.
When the response team arrives, ensure that everyone who might be in danger receives proper care.
Document all Necessary Evidence
While the emergency response officers are on their way, document all evidence you can. Speak with the commercial vehicle driver and ask for their contact information, company information, and driver’s license.
If you have any passengers, ask them if they detected anything wrong before the accident. For example, a passenger might have noticed that the commercial vehicle driver was on call or distracted.
Take a picture or video of the accident scene and ensure you capture your vehicle’s and the commercial vehicle’s license plates, along with clear images of the damage to both cars.
Do not post these videos or pictures to your social media. Ensure that only you, the police officers who arrive, and the involved driver have the details — no one else. Social media posts can implicate and work against you during a personal injury petition, as the defendant may point out seemingly contradictory information you posted and presented to the court.
Request a copy of the police report and take a picture of the document as a digital duplicate in case you lose the hard copy.
Receive Medical Assessment and Treatment
If the medical response team advises you to receive further treatment, contact your physician immediately and book an appointment. Explain to your doctor the cause of your injuries and ask for a medical report. The medical report is another critical document you must collect after the accident.
Even if you do not show serious signs of injury, visit the doctor for a professional examination. This examination can reveal injuries like internal bleeding, small bone fractures, and concussions.
Appraise Your Vehicle
Take your vehicle to a certified appraiser who can provide a detailed analysis of the damage that your vehicle underwent after the accident. An appraiser can reveal damage like compromised fuel pipes or fractured chassis. This assessment will generate a more accurate and detailed cost estimate of the repairs or replacements needed to restore your vehicle to its pre-accident condition.
Contact Your Attorney
Consult your attorney after an accident and provide them with all the necessary documents and information concerning your case. Your attorney will help you compile all the evidence and consult you on the options you can take to receive adequate compensation.
Your insurance agent or a representative from the company might contact you to enquire about any details concerning the accident. Offer them your lawyer’s contact information and refrain from answering any questions they ask you. Additionally, do not agree to a settlement unless your attorney is present.
Your attorney is the best legal representative to guarantee better compensation outcomes since they will use the police report, vehicle evaluation, and medical report to justify your claim.
Contact us at Frenkel & Frenkel for legal counsel after a car wreck.
