Steps to Take After a Car Accident
When bad things happen, people usually aren’t prepared for them. But being ready can make your life much easier. While you can never fully prepare yourself for a car accident, you can learn what steps to take after a car accident.
There’s no guarantee that you’ll remember what to do after a collision. If you forget, you have another option. You can contact a car accident lawyer in Gainesville. They can tell you what you need to do to receive compensation for your accident. Furthermore, they can handle all of the paperwork that comes with a car crash. Abercrombie, P.A.can take on your case and work towards getting you the outcome you deserve. Follow these steps after your accident, and you can increase your chances of a successful claim.
1. Assess for Injuries
In 2017, there were 14 fatal accidents in Gainesville. Many other accidents involved injuries.
Therefore, the first thing anyone should do after an accident is to check for injuries. Check yourself and avoid moving if you have a serious injury. If you only have a minor injury or are unharmed, check your passengers and the driver of the other vehicle.
You may need to ask witnesses of the accident to help you with injured passengers. However, you shouldn’t move anyone with a serious injury. Doing so could make their injuries worse.
2. Get to a Safe Place
Most accidents happen in bad places. For instance, you might be in the middle of a busy intersection or in a busy highway lane. If possible, you need to get you and all the other involved parties to safety.
You may be able to move your vehicle to a safe place. If it works, you should pull it to the side of the road. But don’t stay in your vehicle if it won’t start or move. Instead, you should leave it there and get clear of traffic. Leave your hazards on and use road flares if possible.
3. Call the Police or an Ambulance
You should contact 911 if anyone is injured. When you call, the operator will also notify the police. If someone is seriously injured, they need medical attention as quickly as possible.
If no one has serious injuries, you should call the police. Even if the damage to the vehicles seems minimal, you have an obligation to notify the police. When they get to the site of the accident, they will write out a police report. In it, they include details about the accident. Using driver testimony, witness testimony, and evidence from the crash site, the police can give a thorough account of what happened.
Later on, the police report could be the key to your case. Insurance companies look at the police report to determine liability. If you file a personal injury claim against the other driver, the court will use the witness testimony to determine the outcome of your case.
4. Document Information
Typically, there’s a wait for the police. While you’re waiting, you should collect information from the other involved parties. Write down the name, contact information, and insurance details of the other driver. Then, record the driver’s license number and plate number of the other driver.
If there are passengers involved in the accident, collect their information as well. If possible, get information from any witnesses. Make notes on what happened leading up to the accident and where the collision occurred.
You should continue to document details after the police show up. For instance, you should write down the names of the police officers on the scene. Record any other information you think might be relevant to your case.
5. Call Your Insurance Company
You need to notify your insurance company of your accident. In fact, you may want to call them while you’re at the scene of the accident. They will ask you for information on the collision, but be cautious. Often, the companies use the words of accident victims against them.
6. Speak with an Attorney
At any point after the accident, you can benefit from speaking with a car accident lawyer in Gainesville. They can prepare you for the process and let you know what to expect.
Abercrombie, P.A. can work with the insurance company to get you a fair payout. They can handle all of the work while you nurse your wounds. Contact us today and let us help you.