Steps To Follow After a Traffic Accident

No one plans to get in a car accident. However, you will need to be prepared when one does occur. This is not only important for the safety of yourself and others, but it can impact your legal rights. You need to know what to do and what not to do after a traffic accident.

When asked, an attorney from Goidel and Siegel said, “After a car accident, your top priority should be the health and safety of yourself and others. That being said, your actions in the moments following a crash can have significant legal implications. The steps you take after a car accident can affect any legal claim made by you or against you.”

As hectic as a car crash can be, you need to know what to do. This post will provide a few tips for the steps you should follow after a traffic accident.

Assess Injuries

The first step is to check yourself and the passengers in your car for injuries. Assess your body for injuries and ask everyone in the car if they are injured. If anyone is injured, you need to call for an ambulance immediately. If no one in the car can call for help, try to get the attention of bystanders. Car crash injuries can be severe, so a fast response from emergency services can make a big difference.

Move Your Vehicle to Safety

If everyone is okay or only has minor injuries, try to move your vehicle out of the roadway. Moving the vehicle is a smart step to ensure safety at the scene. It can protect you and the other parties as you wait. It can also prevent additional collisions. If the vehicle is inoperable or appears unsafe to move, leave it where it is.

Make Contact with Other Parties

Once you have assessed injuries in your vehicle and moved your vehicle to a safe place, you need to make contact with the other vehicle. Start by asking if everyone is okay and if anyone needs help. If there are injuries, call for an emergency response immediately. When talking to other people at the scene, do not engage in discussions about how the accident occurred or who is at fault. These can be difficult points to determine at the scene of a crash. Your words could potentially be used against you if there is legal action later on.

Call Law Enforcement

With injuries assessed, vehicles moved and contact made, it is time to involve law enforcement. Of course, if you already called for an ambulance, the police will be on the way. The first reason to call for law enforcement is that some states may require it by law. However, a police response can be useful even if there is no legal requirement. A police officer can create a record of the event and generate reports that might be useful if there is legal action after the accident.

Exchange Information

You and the other parties should exchange information while waiting for law enforcement to arrive. Start by getting the other driver’s name and insurance information. If you can, get the names of all the other people involved in the crash. If there are any witnesses, you should also try to get their names and contact information. Once the police are there, you should also ask for the names and badge numbers of the officers.

Document the Scene

Documenting the scene can be a good idea if you are not injured. Detailed documentation can be useful if you need to file a claim. It can also protect you from claims if one is filed against you. Written notes can be a good start. Record facts like the time of day, weather conditions, and what the vehicles were doing when the crash occurred. You should also take pictures of the scene. Get images of vehicle damage, marks on the road and injuries.

Contact Your Insurer

You will also need to notify your insurer. There is no requirement that you have to do it at the scene, but it can be helpful. They might be able to provide advice about what to do and the types of information they want you to collect. However, you should avoid speaking too much about the accident and its cause. If they ask questions about the events, just tell them you need time and that you will call them back.

See a Doctor

Seeking medical attention can be one of the smartest decisions after a crash. You should do everything can to recover from a car accident. Some injuries are obvious and you might need an ambulance, but that isn’t always the case. Many car accident injuries are not so obvious. Some injuries can take days or even weeks to become apparent. However, a doctor will be able to diagnose these issues earlier and help you start your recovery.

As a final step, you might need to contact an attorney. If you are injured, you might have a right to compensation. However, it can be risky to deal with an insurance company if you do not have representation.