Injured in a Car Crash? 7 Steps to Take Immediately
A car accident can be a frightening thing. It may be hard to think clearly. It’s best to be prepared ahead of time and know the steps to take after an accident. After all, the average driver will be involved in three to four accidents in their life. If injured in an accident you want to:
- Stop your vehicle
- Check if anyone needs help
- Talk to police
- Collect information
- Seek medical attention
- Contact your insurance
- Contact an attorney
Stop Your Vehicle
Often in a crash, your vehicle will end up coming to a stop on its own. However, if it doesn’t, it is important to pull off to the side of the road and turn off your engine. If the accident happened in a flash and you kept driving down the road for several seconds afterward, slowly and safely return your car to the site of the crash.
Check if Anyone Needs Help
After you have stopped your vehicle, the injury status of everyone involved in the crash should be your first priority. First, check yourself to make sure that you are not seriously hurt. Then, check on any passengers in your vehicle to make sure that they are okay. Finally, if nobody needs attention in your car, exit and go to check on anyone else involved in the crash.
Should you find anyone that needs assistance, speak with a 911 operator and be prepared to follow any instruction you may receive from them on how to help the injured person.
Talk to Police
When the police arrive at the scene, you will need to speak with them so that they can fill out a police report. In most states, it is illegal not to file a police report in the case of a serious accident, especially if someone was injured. Even if the crash was minor, it is a good idea to file a police report as it can help you in making an insurance claim.
Collect Information
It is important to gather as much information as possible after a crash. The more information you have, the better situated you will be when filing an insurance claim or a lawsuit.
Speak with any other drivers involved in the accident and get their name, insurance, and contact information. Collect license plate numbers along with marking down the make and model of the car. Speak with any witnesses and collect their contact details. Make note of anything else at the scene that may have had an impact on the collision. This can include weather, road conditions, traffic signs, or anything else of note.
Seek Medical Attention
In cases where you have suffered a serious injury, this will take precedent over the steps above. After stopping the car and checking yourself for damages, if you discover a serious problem, call an ambulance right away so that you can get the medical assistance you need. The other steps in the process can wait. Your safety is the top priority in this situation.
Even if you have only suffered minor injuries, though, or feel you are uninjured, it is important to seek medical attention. Some injuries are hard to notice immediately after a crash. Your body is often coursing with adrenaline, which can work to mask any pain you might be feeling.
In the event that you do have injuries that you did not detect, without a medical examination immediately following the accident, you could find it difficult to prove your injuries were related to the crash when trying to file a claim with insurance or bringing a lawsuit against another driver. This can significantly impact your chances of getting the financial compensation you need to cover the costs of your injuries.
Contact Your Insurance
Whether you are planning to file a claim with your insurance, or with the insurance provider of another vehicle, you need to contact your insurance company to make them aware of the accident.
Contact an Attorney
Last but certainly not least on your immediate after-accident checklist is to contact an attorney. A qualified car accident lawyer can help walk you through all of your options moving forward. They can represent you in any legal battle or negotiations with insurance companies. Without a lawyer, you most likely will not get the money you are entitled to after an accident as insurance companies are skilled at paying out as little as possible.
Finding an attorney that you feel comfortable with is vital. They will be representing you in what will likely be one of the most vulnerable periods of your life. Should you find yourself looking for representation in Texas or the Huntington area of West Virginia, you can find a knowledgeable car accident lawyer here, who will help get your life back on track.