Knowing what to do if you are involved in an accident can save lives and also make the claims process easier.
If you car is involved in an accident, don't leave the scene of the accident. If you don't stop for an accident you may be subject to criminal prosecution. After an impact and collision try not to move your vehicles until the police arrive in order to allow the policeman to survey the scene and to ensure that evidence regarding how the accident occurred is preserved. If your vehicles are obstructing the flow of traffic, try to move your vehicle the shortest distance possible from the place of impact without obstructing further traffic. Remain at the scene of the accident and have other who have witnessed the occurrence immediately contact the police. If you are injured, do not exit your vehicle.
- Stop your car and find out if anyone is injured.
- Call the police or highway patrol. Tell them how many people were hurt and the types of injuries. The police will notify the nearest medical unit.
When you have been the victim of someone else's lack of care in operating their automobile, it is important that you contact the local police department immediately in order to preserve your rights. Do not allow the other operator to convince you that this should be "handled among ourselves". Calling the police department is especially important step if you feel any pain or injury as a result of the accident. Remember, if there is a lawsuit latter on, your counterpart in the accident may have a completely different story when the matter reaches court than the one that he or she tells you at the scene of the accident.
- Cover injured people with a blanket to keep them warm.
Many people, even when they feel pain, will refuse medical attention at the scene and travel home. Then, after several hours of increasing pain, they will finally go to the hospital and present themselves at the emergency room. When their case reaches court, this delay in seeking medical attention is often used against them as a weapon to prove that the accident did not cause the injury. If you feel pain at an accident scene and an ambulance is offered, utilize the ambulance services to go immediately to the closest emergency room.
- Try to protect the accident scene. Take reasonable steps to protect your car from further damage, such as setting up flares, getting the car off the road and calling a tow truck.
- Ask the investigating officer where you can obtain a copy of the police report. You will probably need it when you submit your claim to your insurance company.
- If necessary, have the car towed to a repair shop. But remember, your insurance company probably will want to have an adjuster inspect it and appraise the damage before you order repair work done.
- Make notes. Keep a pad and pencil in your glove compartment. Write down:
- the names and addresses of all drivers and passengers involved in the accident.
- license plate numbers
- make and model of each car
- driver's license numbers
- insurance identifications
- names and addresses of witnesses
- names and badge numbers of police officers or other emergency personnel.
- make notes as to the time of day, weather conditions, road conditions, street lights, and the presence or length of skid marks. Try to make a diagram noting the location of the vehicles, crosswalks, stop signs and traffic signals
If you run into an unattended vehicle or object, try to find the owner. If you can't, leave a note containing your name, address and phone number. Record the details of the accident.
When you exchange information with the other driver and give the facts to the police, do not feel obligated to admit responsibility for the accident. The things that you say immediately following an accident may be used against you during the course of litigation. You may think that you were responsible for the accident and later learn that the other driver caused it or the other driver was equally at fault.
Important Steps Following a Car Accident
Contact a Lawyer - In this day and age, the simplest automobile accidents require as many steps to be undertaken by a person who suffers injury. Your own insurance company must be contacted in the appropriate way with information regarding your personal injury protection plan obtained. No-fault benefits need to be secured as well as any benefits that may be available for an uninsured vehicle accident or an underinsured vehicle accident. Failure to properly notify the company through competent counsel may lead to an objection to such a claim on a later date.
Often times, forms must be filed with the Department of Public Safety, the local Police Department, or the Registry of Motor Vehicles. The assistance of a lawyer may be invaluable to the proper presentation of these forms.
Follow Up With Your Medical Care - In many cases involving injury, it is important that you follow up your medical care on a consistent basis. In many medical circles today, it is important that proper follow-up medical care be obtained in order to keep a person from developing further pain which may become intractable in the future. A doctor may recognize injuries, sometimes serious, that are not readily apparent from the first Emergency Room visit nor to you, even at a later date. The charges for a doctor's visit and medical treatment may be covered by insurance.
