Car accidents are stressful, traumatic events. However, it’s important to do your best to maintain a level head and make rational decisions in the hours, days, and weeks that follow a wreck. The things you do and the decisions you make can affect your physical health and your ability to recover compensation from an insurance company or another liable party.
Here’s a breakdown of what you should do and what you should avoid doing after a car accident.
Report the Car Accident to the Local Police By Calling 911
In most states, a car accident must be reported if it causes property damage (typically exceeding $1,000 in repairs), personal injury, or wrongful death. However, this isn’t the only reason to pick up the phone and call 911 after a collision. Calling the police helps to ensure that your crash is formally documented and subject to a prompt initial investigation.
When you call 911 or the local police department, you can also request to have other first responders - including EMTs and the fire department - dispatched to the scene to provide whatever assistance might be necessary.
Make sure you remain at or near the scene of the car accident while you wait for the police to get to the scene. Leaving can be considered a hit-and-run, which can have severe criminal and civil consequences.
Once the police arrive, officers will conduct a preliminary investigation and document the crash in a police report. The report can contain essential details about the wreck - including the time, date, location, damage to property, weather, and if any citations were issued. This information can be incredibly helpful as your attorney investigates your crash and builds out a legal claim for damages on your behalf.
Exchange Insurance Information With Other Parties
Whether you live in a fault/full tort or no-fault/limited tort state, insurance will be the first option for recovering compensation after a car accident. Even if you must file a claim with your insurance company first, you’ll want to have other parties’ insurance information on hand if your damages exceed your car insurance policy limits. Getting this information upfront is sometimes required by law. Even if it’s not, it can make things much easier for you down the line.
Refuse to Take the Blame For the Auto Accident
It’s a good idea to check on other crash victims. It’s not a good idea to accept blame or apologize for the car accident. An apology can be taken out of context and used to limit or prevent a financial recovery in the future. States have varying contributory negligence laws on the books that limit a victim’s ability to recover damages when they’re partly at fault.
So, do your best to remain neutral and avoid taking responsibility for a crash - even if you think you’re to blame.
The only way to know why and how a car accident happened is through a thorough investigation. If you take the blame right off the bat, it might negate the need for an investigation and derail your personal injury claim before it even has a chance to begin.
Document the Scene of the Crash As Best You Can
You should take a few moments to document the scene of your car accident if you’re physically capable of doing so. Take pictures of damage to vehicles, the road, traffic signs and signals, tire tracks, and physical injuries. Record a video to capture the atmosphere and any details that might be difficult to decipher in a photograph.
If you can, get the names and contact information of any witnesses, including passengers.
Your attorney can use the evidence you gather to help build a more compelling legal claim for damages on your behalf.
Seek Prompt Medical Treatment at the Closest Emergency Room
Always seek medical care after a car accident, even if you don’t think you’ve been injured. Car accidents are violent events. Your body goes through a lot and absorbs a lot of force, even in low-impact collisions at low speeds.
Many times, internal injuries or trauma to your soft tissue might not be evident right away. Sometimes, the rush of adrenaline you experience because of the crash masks signs and symptoms of your crash-related injuries. If you delay treatment, the consequences can be catastrophic.
You’re more likely to get appropriate treatment and care by getting to the closest emergency room promptly after a wreck. This can significantly limit the risk of complications.
Seeking prompt care will also ensure that your injuries are documented. When you file a negligence claim in the future, you’ll need to prove that your injuries were the result of a collision. Medical records will be invaluable pieces of evidence during this process.
Resist the Urge to Accept the Insurance Company’s Initial Settlement Offer
The insurance adjuster might approach you with a settlement offer not long after your car accident. While taking the offer might be appealing, it’s important to consider whether the agreement will cover the full extent of damages caused by your car accident.
The insurance company knows that once you accept the offer, you waive the right to seek additional compensation in the future - even if your injuries turn out to be way more costly than you initially thought. So, they might tempt you with an offer before you have the chance to consult a car accident lawyer.
Don’t lose out on valuable compensation because you’re eager to get cash in hand. Protect your rights and financial future by discussing your situation with an experienced personal injury attorney first.
Contact Singleton Schreiber’s Experienced Car Accident Attorneys Near You
You don’t have to navigate the aftermath of a car accident on your own. Take the time you need to get better and trust Singleton Schreiber’s award-winning litigators to help you recover a life-changing financial award.
At Singleton Schreiber, we’re local lawyers backed by national resources with a proven ability to make a difference in the lives of the people we represent. Our case results, which include over $3 Billion in monetary awards, speak volumes about the representation we provide.
We represent clients on contingency, which means you pay nothing until we win compensation for you after a car accident. Contact our law office to get started with a free consultation now.
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