Protect Yourself After a Crash
Give us a call to for a free personal injury consultation at 888-888-8980. Following the steps below could help ease the stress of your vehicle crash.
1. STOP- Do not ever drive away from the scene of a crash, no matter how minor it may seem.
2. CALL THE POLICE- Even when it seems there are no injuries, it is a good idea to call the police. The police will write a police report and you may need that to file a claim with your insurance company. This may be needed even if it is just for damage to your vehicle. Do not move your vehicle unless it interferes with traffic.
3. GIVE ACCURATE DETAILS– When the police arrive, you should tell them exactly what happened in your own words. Do not speak about details you are unsure of. You should never speculate or make guesses as to what happened. Apologizing to another driver could be interpreted as an admission of guilt. If you are asked if you are injured, you should always say you are not sure. Saying “no” may be held against you later. You may be injured, but unaware, due to shock. Being in shock can make you unable to feel pain
4. TAKE PICTURES- You should take pictures of the scene if you are able. Never take pictures if it will interfere with the police investigation. Be sure to take pictures of any visible injuries you may have.
5. EXCHANGE INFORMATION- The police will gather information during their investigation. If for some reason police do not respond to your crash, you should gather information from the other driver(s). Be sure to get the name, address, and telephone number of the driver(s) and passenger(s) of all vehicles involved. Ask the other driver(s) to see their insurance card or get the information from them. It is a good idea to get the name, address, and phone number of any witness as well.
6. SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION- Not all injuries will be noticed immediately. Most people report feeling effects of their crash a day or two after the crash. You should seek medical attention as soon as possible after a crash, even if it is a trip to your family physician. Injuries can happen in crashes with little impact. You can sustain serious injury to your spinal cord, or if you lost consciousness, you may suffer from a concussion or other head injury.
7. REPORT THE CRASH- You should report the crash to your insurance company as soon as possible. Find out if you have medical payments coverage, also known as MedPay. If you do, be sure to submit your accident-related medical bills to the insurance company. Once your MedPay policy is exhausted, your health insurance will begin covering your medical bills.
8. KEEP A FILE- You should keep all of your accident-related documents together. You will be given a claim number from your insurance so that you can keep up with your claim. You will also be given the name of the adjuster, the person who handles the claim, and any related phone numbers. Anything related to the crash should be kept in this file.
9. CALL A LAWYER – Contacting an attorney is the best way to be sure your rights are protected. An attorney can make sure you are protected and keep important information from being destroyed. Most insurance companies want to get statements from all parties involved immediately after the crash. You should be sure to seek legal advice before making any statements. Personal injury attorneys can make sure you are getting the best medical treatment available. Personal injury attorneys also work on a contingency fee basis. This means that you do not pay until your case is won. If there is no compensation on your case, there is no payment to the attorney.
