You were injured in a car accident… What should you do next? It’s important to follow several steps after an accident. Whether or not it was the other person’s fault or not, it’s important to take various safety measures; but it’s also important to make sure you take care of what needs to be taken care of. In many cases, after an accident, someone is frazzled or shocked, and they neglect to follow some of the important steps that should follow. Later, that person may pay a price because the wreck gets wrongly pinned on them even when it was the other driver’s fault.
Here are some important tips that you should know as to what should follow immediately after an accident:
Assess your situation
Sometimes the aftershock of a wreck can leave you numb, as your body is rushing with adrenaline. It’s important to make sure you’re able to move and not potentially fatally injured in any way before going forward in the situation. There have been cases where people have been in shock and unable to feel pain until days later, when they realize they actually have a fractured rib or an internal bleed. Even though you might not be in immediate pain, take things slow, because you could still be injured whether you feel it yet or not.
If you’re able to, check on anyone else who was involved in the accident as well. Seek medical attention for anyone who may need it. If a person is unconscious or complaining of neck or back pain, do not move them, but immediately call for an ambulance (unless it is of more hazard for said person to stay where they are).
Call the police
Call the police and let them know where the accident occurred; there is no initial need to explain what happened, as they will ask you when they arrive on the scene and file a police report. You will need to obtain a copy of the police report as well; your insurance company will likely ask for it later.
Take pictures
Take pictures of the scene and the accident. The police will move your vehicles out of traffic’s way as soon as possible, so beforehand, make sure you take photos of your car from various angles, the other cars involved, and the environment in which it took place.
Talk to witnesses
Many times, on-lookers will stop to try and help. Get their names, phone numbers, email addresses, etc., you may need their story later as part of the insurance claims involved.
Let your insurance company know what happened
Call your insurance company and follow the necessary steps to file an accident report of what happened. Be honest with them and tell them the story of what happened exactly, and to your best ability (you can face serious charges if you are caught lying to them). It’s best to do this as soon as possible after an accident, as the more time that goes by, even a day, you will start to remember what happened a little bit differently, or things might become a little bit cloudy as the shock wears off, etc.
Unfortunately, on many occasions, people will either be dishonest about their responsibility of an accident, or truly unsure of what happened, as they may be suffering from the aftershock as well. The best thing to do if you or someone was injured in an accident, is to consult an expert. Not only can a car accident lead to physical pain, but it can be a huge interruption in your life. If you are injured and without a car, you may not be able to work, you may have to use transportation services, pay for medical bills, etc. If you are in the DFW area, and looking for a personal injury attorney in McKinney, please contact us today. Here at, Wormington & Bollinger, we are here to help, and want you to get the compensation you deserve.