Automobile Accident Attorneys and What to Do After a Car Accident

Automobile accident attorneys deal with all too many cases in which the accident was not handled correctly, there were issues immediately following the accident that could have been avoided and other inconsistencies. The best advice is to print off this checklist and have it in your glove compartment with your insurance information. If you should be in an accident, you have this as a reminder and checklist of what to do.

If you, or a loved one, has been in an accident, contact a automobile lawyer if you feel that your insurance company, or the insurance provider of the other party/parties involved is not handling your damages or medical issues appropriately, swiftly and professionally. Ask A Lawyer Online Now.

No one really likes to think about having an accident with their vehicle, but if you drive, you’re at risk for ending up in a crash, no matter how minor. Luckily, the majority of car accidents are fairly simple and end up only causing minimal damage to the vehicles, but it’s a good idea to know exactly what you should do in the case of a car accident.

1. Check if anyone is injured. Not all injuries will show up right away, but you definitely want to make sure that everyone involved in the car accident is alright. The first concern, if anyone is injured, is to get medical help. You’ll need to stop any bleeding and call 911 to make sure that help is on the way. It is always a good idea to have a first aid kit in the truck or back of your vehicle. You will then have access to bandages, gauze and any other supplies you may need to deal with minor injuries so you can focus on the accident scene.

2. Divert traffic, if needed. Often, a car accident that immobilizes a vehicle will end up blocking traffic, so it’s a good idea to ensure that there is a way to divert traffic, either with a flare or traffic cones from an emergency kit, or having someone actually wave passing cars around the broken down vehicle. Hazard lights are also a must if they are still functioning.

3. Report the accident. Your car insurance will be useless if you can’t prove that the accident actually happened. So, an accident report should always be filed with the police even in minor fender benders that don’t seem that serious. Furthermore, it is best to have the police present to deal with the situation and details, as tempers can easily flare and finger pointing can run rampant following an accident. You’ll need to make repairs and you definitely want the car insurance company to cover it, so make sure that everything is on paper and signed by the police. Stay on the scene until the accident report has been completely filled out.

4. Don’t admit anything.Immediately after an accident, it’s a good idea to keep your mouth shut as to who was at fault. It’s pretty easy to get angry, particularly if you weren’t the one at fault, but that can lead to a much nastier situation. To prevent problems, it’s best to wait until the police arrive. Also, admitting that you were at fault can cause problems down the road, so keep your mouth shut until you can speak with the police or your insurance company. Furthermore, make no statements about any injuries or lack thereof. If you claim that you are “fine” yet months later begin to feel neck or back pain, that statement may work against you. If anyone presses you for a comment or statement about your physical wellbeing, simply state that you will know more after you see a physician.

5. Write everything down. It’s a good idea to keep a pad of paper and a couple of pens in your glove box. This way you can write down all pertinent information that could be useful later on. This includes names of all parties involved, addresses, phone numbers and email, as well as the license plate number, car insurance information and VIN, since these can all be handy later on if the incident goes to court.

If you have a cell phone with the ability to take photographs, take pictures of everything that you can to include road condition, skid marks, damage, even damage to the other vehicle(s)if the other driver(s) will allow it. I recently had a friend who was in a “fender bender” with very minimal damages. She continued to run a couple of errands and by the time she got home, the other driver’s insurance company had called her to discuss the accident and damage to the other vehicle. Suddenly, the other car was missing a bumper, had extensive scratches and other damage that was not part of the accident she had been in. She could have been scammed if it were not for the fact that she had her daughter take pictures while she was dealing with the driver!

In addition, some cellphones have the ability to allow you to record, either with digital images or at least sounds and you can put your phone in a recording mode so you can capture the statements and images of the accident. This can help you to remember what was said and what was done at the scene, as often you are so shaken and overwhelmed simply by the accident itself that comments made or actions can slip by you and be forgotten.

6. File an insurance claim. This should be done as quickly as possible after the accident. For minor accidents, you can even call from the scene and make sure that your claim is in as fast as possible. Not only does this mean you can shorten the amount of time that it takes for your claim to go through, you have the added benefit of police officers there to help you explain the situation and give them information. All too often, drivers are concerned about their rates, and do not want to notify their insurance company and file a claim.

Car insurance is vital to have when comes to accidents. While no one wants to be in a car accident, that doesn’t mean you should ignore the worst case scenario. You could be in the position where you need some repairs on the vehicle, thanks to the accident, and rather than having the huge expenses come out of your pocket, your insurance company will take care of it, something that can be no end of relief when everything else is going downhill.

Author: Amy Nutt

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