After you’re involved in a car accident, what do you do? Perhaps you’ve never though through it with the “it’ll never happen to me” mentality. While it’s great to be optimistic, it’s also great to be prepared. If you’re involved in a car accident, the following are some things you should do to handle it at the scene.
Call 911
Whether you feel there are extensive injuries or not, you should always call the authorities. You’ll need paramedics there if anyone is injured, and you’ll need a police officer there to fill out an official report. Simply swapping insurance and contact information with the other driver is a risky move. You don’t know if the information the other driver gives you is actually correct. If it’s not, you won’t have a way to receive compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance provider. A police report could also help you should you go to trial with a lawsuit.
Receive Medical Care
Seemingly small injuries can end up being larger injuries without you realizing it. A small bruise at the time of the accident could be a huge bruise just a couple days later, indicating severe internal bleeding. Slight dizziness right after impact could result in a traumatic brain injury. You don’t know the implications of the accident, so it’s important you receive medical care anyway. After an initial exam, your doctor may have a better idea whether you will need further treatment or if you should just keep an eye on your minor injuries.
Gather Information
While on the scene, you should gather as much information and evidence as you can. Of course, if you are injured and can’t do it, you should ask someone else to do it for you. You should collect names and phone numbers of witnesses. You should collect insurance information from the other driver. You should gather contact information for anyone in the other car, as well as for pedestrians. Taking photos of the scene, including injuries and automobile damage, is another type of evidence you should collect.
Report the Accident
To receive an insurance payout, you’ll need to inform your insurance provider of the accident. Depending on who’s at fault, you may see a spike in your future premiums, but it’s still required to report your accident.
Contact Your Attorney
You may wish to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver, but even if you don’t, a lawyer could be your greatest ally. With legal representation, it may be easier for you to understand whether to sue, what types of damages to seek and how to go about the process. Contact your attorney today for more information.
Source: Car Accident Attorney Indianapolis, IN, Ward & Ward Law Firm