Top 6 important things that you should do after a car accident: Motor vehicle accidents occur unexpectedly and you may not know what to do if you are involved in one. Most people may not be able to function properly after an accident.
This is why you need to know the appropriate steps to take following an accident to ensure that you are back on track in no time. Here are 5 things that you should do after a major injury or accident.
Check for any injuries
After an accident, it is crucial that you confirm whether you or any of your passengers are injured. If anyone is injured, then you should call 911 immediately regardless of the seriousness of the injury.
Your top priority should be taking care of the injured individuals. If you have leg related injuries, for example, sprained ankles or swelling, you should use compression socks to ease the pain immediately, prevent inflammation, and assist in rebuilding damaged tissues.
Call the police
No matter how minor your accident may seem, it is crucial that you report it to the police. This is because the aftermath of an accident can become complicated even if you are insured.
You may need a police report in order to file a claim. You should never leave the accident scene until the police have arrived at the accident scene.
Gather evidence
Gathering evidence is a crucial step that should never be overlooked after an accident. The time spent waiting for police officers to get to the scene can be used to take photos and gather all necessary evidence. Take lots of pictures of the damage to your car, other vehicles, and the surrounding property or area.
Pictures that show the positions of the vehicles involved can be helpful in determining fault for the motor accident. Ensure that you also take pictures of the injuries and contact information of victims involved in the accident and any witnesses present.
Contact a lawyer
A vehicle accident can be quite a scary experience. If you are injured, you may have a challenging time dealing with the aftermath, particularly if it involves lost income, missed work, medical treatments, hospitalizations or dealing with an insurance adjuster.
Contacting a personal injury lawyer is important because he/she will deal with the case while you take time off to recover and rest. For the best personal law injury representation, consider Brennan Hershey.
Exchange information
You should exchange crucial information with the driver/drivers of the other vehicles involved in the accident.
Be sure to get their names, house address, phone numbers, driver’s license number, vehicle identification number (VIN), license plate number and other information. You can also document the model and brand of the vehicles involved.
Contact the insurance company
Make sure that you call your insurance company for the exact policy. Most insurance firms will expect you to contact them within 48 to 72 hours after an accident.
Failure to do so can cause unnecessary challenges on your claim. The earlier you contact your insurer, the sooner your medical bills will be paid, especially if you have personal injury protection coverage.
When involved in any motor vehicle accident, you should never admit fault or blame anyone for the mishap. Discussing the accident can distort your mental image of the accident and you will be unable to tell exactly what you saw from what you discussed.
This discussion should be had with your attorney or police. They will use the evidence gathered from the scene and from all parties to give the final cause of the accident.
