No one expects to be in a vehicle accident, but they happen frequently. You may walk away from a minor collision, but there are steps you must take before you leave the crash scene:
Seek medical attention
Some accidents are more severe than others, but even a minor crash can cause significant injury. Symptoms may not always appear at the time of the accident. Therefore, it is a good idea to get prompt medical attention since you might have underlying injuries. Furthermore, you can use the doctor’s report as significant evidence of the crash if you include it when filing a claim for insurance compensation.
Move your vehicle and report the accident
If you can, move your car safely out of the roadway. If you have flares or emergency triangles, set them up as a warning to other drivers. Call the police if they are not on the way already. You will want a copy of the police report to give to your attorney. Call your own insurance company and then your lawyer to inform them of the crash.
Take photographs
Use your cellphone to take pictures of the crash site, the damage to the vehicles, license plates and any apparent injuries. If you do not have smartphone camera capabilities, draw a diagram of the crash, indicating the direction in which each vehicle was traveling when the accident occurred.
Moving forward
Less conversation is better after a vehicle crash, especially if you are the victim. Speak to the police but keep the discussion with anyone else to a minimum. Remember that anything you say may be used against you. Your advocate can negotiate with a negligent driver’s insurance company on your behalf to obtain the maximum compensation to cover your medical expenses and more.