What Happens Immediately After a Car Accident?
In the moments after a vehicle crash, your mind will be racing. That’s why it’s best to be prepared at all times, and know what the first steps after a car accident should be.
Safety First: Seek Medical Help
When two or more vehicles collide, the most important thing to ensure is the safety and health of everyone involved. As soon as you exit your vehicle, you should:
- Make sure everyone involved is safe
- Move vehicles out of traffic to prevent any additional injuries
- Turn on hazard lights to warn other drivers
- Call an ambulance if there’s a medical emergency. If there’s no emergency, go to urgent care later that day so that you have timely documentation of any injuries.
Call Authorities
In most cases, you are legally obligated to contact the police after a motor vehicle accident. Even if the crash seems minor, this is a great way to cover yourself. The other driver could be driving illegally, like with no license or with a warrant. You’ll want to have the police on the scene check these things. The authorities will oversee the exchange of insurance information as well, making sure that no one leaves the scene without cooperating.
Exchange Insurance Information
After a crash, the other driver may try and convince you not to call the authorities or get the insurance companies involved. They may insist that they will pay you out of pocket for damages. However, it’s always best to involve the authorities and exchange insurance information no matter what. If you don’t involve any third parties, it will just be your word against the other driver’s. In fact, in many states it’s illegal to suggest bypassing a police report.
Document Everything
Before leaving the scene, make sure to document everything. This includes:
- Pictures of vehicles. Make sure to photograph both vehicles, on the part of the vehicle where they collided. Also include a zoomed out picture of the crash, and multiple angles of each vehicle.
- Pictures of injuries. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. It’s hard to beat the first hand proof of a photo from immediately after the injuries happened. This will be an important piece of evidence, especially if you can’t get to a doctor right away.
- Notes to write down. Try and jot down any relevant information you can think of after the accident. This could include:
- The speed you were going
- Road conditions
- Witnesses
- Anything else that happened – did the other driver say something to you? Were there any pedestrians involved?
It can never hurt to document all aspects of a crash. You never know what facts the other driver may try and dispute down the road.
What Should I Do (And Not Do) To Protect Myself?
After a crash, you will inevitably get a call from an insurance adjuster. Before you speak with them, it’s good to know the types of questions you should ask, and the types of answers you should avoid. Here are some quick tips for your insurance adjuster call:
- Do ask them to admit fault
- Do not admit fault or provide a recorded statement
- Do ask them how much insurance coverage the other driver has
- Do not accept economy parts to repair your vehicle; insist on OEM
- Do ask for a copy of the other driver’s recorded statement (if there is one)
- Do ask if they will pay for your medical bills and lost wages
Make sure to get these answers in writing, whenever possible. The more written documentation you can get from the insurance company, the better.
The next and final step is to contact a car accident lawyer. They will hold your hand throughout the process of filing a claim, ensuring that you get the best outcome.
What Does a Car Accident Lawyer Do?
From the moment you hire a car accident lawyer, they will be in your corner fighting for you. Most attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you don’t pay them unless they win your case. Your lawyer will help remind you to document things, help you collect evidence, find expert witnesses if needed, and be the point of contact with the insurance company.
The main benefit of hiring a car insurance attorney is for the wealth of knowledge they possess. It can be confusing to navigate the laws and insurance policies involved in a car accident claim. They know how much you deserve in compensation, and they will fight for it.
It can be easy to overlook some of the damages from a car accident, but they go beyond medical bills and vehicle damage. Your lawyer will be there to help recover compensation for lost wages, attorney fees, emotional distress, and any potential mental health services like for PTSD. Don’t let yourself be taken advantage of after a car accident – let a lawyer fight for what you deserve.