Car Accident Checklist Of What To Do After A Car Accident.
Alright, so you were involved in a car accident. Now what are you supposed to do? This is one of the most frequently asked questions asked by those involved in an auto accident. Below is quick car accident checklist of things to think about doing after being in a car accident:
What To Do Immediately After A Car Accident
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Stay Safe or Get to Safety.
Staying safe after a car accident is imperative. Stay in your car if there is a risk of further injury or if it is unsafe to leave the vehicle. If it is minor car accident, you can consider moving the car to the side of the road and away from oncoming traffic. If a car cannot be safely moved away from the middle of the road or away from a busy intersection, occupants should generally remain in the vehicle until help arrives. Protect yourself at the scene of the accident. You might set up flares, warning triangles, or safety cones and/or put your flashers or blinkers on to protect yourself from further injury or damage to your car.
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If required, seek immediate medical attention if anyone is injured
If you are able to safely do so, check on those involved in the accident to see if they are injured. Generally, if someone has neck pain or back pain or is unconscious only a qualified medical professional should attempt to move them. Call 911 if emergency help is needed at the scene.
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Stay at the scene of the accident.
Its usually not a good idea to leave or drive away from an accident scene until it is appropriate to do so.
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Call the police to report the accident
If necessary or required, call the police to report the car accident. If law enforcement arrive at the scene, you might ask the responding officer for his or her name, badge number or ID number and police report number if applicable. Your insurance company may need you to get a police report (also commonly referred to as an accident report, incident report, car accident report or vehicle accident report). When reporting an accident, always be truthful about what happened. Do not guess or speculate if you are not sure about something.
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Take photographs of the accident scene
If you have a camera or cell phone with a camera, you may want to take photos of the (1) accident scene or location (including street signs or lights, skid marks, road conditions, etc), (2) the vehicles involved in the car accident including license plates and damage to the cars and (3) people involved including the injuries sustained by them. Pictures will help an insurance adjuster determine compensation for car damage and if you later decided to file a personal injury lawsuit, photos may be helpful in proving both liability (i.e., that the other driver was at fault for causing you injuries) and damages.
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Gather and exchange information from others at the accident scene
In the event of an accident, it is a good idea to share information with the other drivers, passengers and others involved in the car accident, including things such as (1) names; (2) addresses; (3) phone numbers; (4) email addresses; (5) the make, model and year of cars involved; (6) the driver’s license plate numbers; (7) the driver’s license numbers; (8) drivers’ insurance carrier’s name; and (9) insurance policy number.
It is also a good idea to find out if there are witnesses to the accident and get information from witnesses about what they may have seen or heard and their names and contact information. Be careful about discussing the incident (and especially about admitting fault) with the other driver or with the representative of the other driver’s insurance company. If called by the driver’s insurance company, you can ask them to call your own insurance carrier or your lawyer, if you have one.
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Call your insurance company to report the car accident
Report the car accident to your insurance company. Always be truthful about what happened and the extent of your injuries. Follow instructions, if any, given to you by your insurance company.
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Call to request a tow if necessary
If your car is not driveable, you can call a tow truck to get your vehicle towed.
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Fill out an accident report form or take notes
In addition to taking photos of the accident scene, it may be helpful to fill out an accident report form or take notes about the incident, including details such as the time and date of the accident, the weather, description of the car accident, a description of the injuries sustained or damage incurred, etc.
Things to Follow Up On After A Car Accident
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Seek followup medical attention for any injuries.
It is important to obtain timely medical treatment for any injuries you sustained in the car accident. If you are injured, follow up with your doctor or physician, chiropractor, or physical therapist. Often, pain and injuries from a car accident don’t become apparent for hours or days after the incident. Be sure to report any symptoms to your doctor, no matter how slight. You may want to keep a journal that details any pain you experience, symptoms suffered, treatment received and medication taken.
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Keep good records of the accident, your injuries and your medical treatment
It is also important to maintain good records and documentation of all accident-related information including (1) insurance related information such as insurance claim numbers, claims adjuster name and numbers, etc. (2) medical records and information, such as information about who treated you for injuries relating to the accident (doctors, chiropractors, physical therapists, psychiatrists, etc.) where you were treated (hospitals, clinics, etc.), dates of treatment, what treatments or medications were prescribed by your doctor, your prognosis, etc. (3) medical bills and invoices or receipts for other expenses incurred as a result of the car accident, such as receipts for car rental or car repairs; (4) employment related information, including information relating to missed work and lost wages; and (5) notes about the accident and your how the injuries have impacted your normal daily life.
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Consider hiring a personal injury lawyer or attorney
Finally, you may wish to hire a personal injury lawyer or attorney to help protect your legal rights in connection with the car accident. A personal injury lawyer can help you determine whether you have a personal injury lawsuit case or car accident settlement claim, whether you might be able to recover compensation in the form of money damages, and answer questions you may have about car accident lawsuits and settlements, including what to do after a car accident. To get connected with a car accident attorney, fill out the form on the right to request a free case review by a car accident lawyer.
If You Or A Loved One Was Injured In A Car Accident, Contact A Car Accident Lawyer.
Fill Out The Form On The Right For A Free Review By A Car Accident Attorney.