6 Things to Do After You’ve Been in an Accident

Anyone who has been in a car accident can attest that it is one of the most stressful events one can experience. Crashes can cause significant damage to your personal property. And in the worst-case scenario, they can also result in injury or even loss of life. Even minor accidents can result in days, weeks, or even months of dealing with the legal aftermath.

The first and most critical step to take after a collision is to ensure that you and everyone else involved in the event are safe. If someone requires medical assistance, call EMS immediately. After you ascertain that everyone involved in the accident receives medical assistance, you should calmly use the following tips to handle the stressful aftermath.

1. Call the Police

Regardless of the severity of your accident, having law enforcement at the scene is always a good idea. The police will be in a position to assist in documenting the incident. Your insurance company can use the collected evidence to support your impending claim.

2. Document the Accident

Next, photograph the vehicles, the accident scene, and any visible injuries you or your passengers may have. Even though the police will document the incident, having photos of damages to your vehicle and injuries sustained in the accident will be extremely useful going forward.

Having photographic evidence also relieves the stress of having to recall minor details later for insurance purposes.

You should, however, refrain from posting the crash on social media. Making a social post about the collision might hinder your case. The opposing legal team can use this information to discredit your claim.

A Lawrenceville personal injury lawyer will assist you in building personal injury claims and seek compensation for the harm caused by other drivers. A legal expert can help you gather strong evidence to support your claim.

3. Exchange Information

Even though the laws governing how much information you must exchange at the scene of an accident vary by state. You should exchange names, contact information, and insurance information with the other drivers in most circumstances.

To ensure that you get the correct details, insist on seeing the other driver's license and insurance card. You can even ask the police officers on the scene to assist you in gathering the necessary information. Also, ensure that you have a clear photograph of the other party's license plate.

You can also use WreckCheck, a free app from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, to capture the time of the accident. The app allows you to produce written and audio information and emails everything to you or your agent.

Most vehicle insurance providers also provide free smartphone apps to assist you in documenting the specifics of the accident.

4. Write Down the Particulars of Any Witnesses

Another critical step that most people ignore is making a list of the witnesses and their contact information. Most witnesses will not wait for the police officer to arrive, and even if they do, a busy officer may not be able to speak with each of them. If you write down their names and contact information, their accident account can be recovered later if necessary.

5. Do Not Admit Fault

When you believe your actions caused the accident, admitting fault may seem like the right thing to do, but the truth is that there may be other elements at play involving the other driver that you might not realize. If you admit fault in an accident, you may lose your ability to seek compensation from the other motorist for the losses you incurred due to the collision.

6. Contact a Lawyer

Contacting an attorney who will fight to defend your rights is the best approach to protect yourself in the event of an accident legally. A lawyer can also assist you in building your case and filing for compensation promptly if you were injured in an accident for which you were not at fault.

Act Fast

The steps you take immediately after a crash can influence the outcome of your case. Therefore, make sure that you do everything in your power to simplify the aftermath and increase your chances at fair compensation.