What to do immediately after a car accident

Car accidents can be overwhelming and frightening experiences for anyone who goes through them, and depending on the severity, a car accident can turn a person’s life upside down in a matter of minutes.

Therefore, knowing what to do immediately after an accident is critical. Many people do not think about this, but if we consider the importance of certain aspects of the accident that could help you in your personal injury claim, it makes perfect sense that it is one of the most important topics to be familiar with.

Check for injuries

First and foremost, check yourself and others to see if anyone is injured. If anyone is hurt, call 911 immediately before doing anything else. Remember—safety is the most important thing here.

Move your vehicle safely

Once you have checked for injuries and called 911, moving your vehicle to a location where no traffic or cars are passing by is ideal. This helps deal with the aftermath of the accident.

Exchange information

Once you have moved your vehicle and spoken to the police, who will likely have arrived by this point, exchange information with the other driver. Do not apologize or say anything that could come back to hurt you later on.

Understandably, you may feel apologetic, but there will be an appropriate time to express that. However, you want to ensure no one uses anything you say against you in a possible lawsuit.

Document the scene

Documenting the scene, like a detective, is one of the most important things you can do after ensuring everyone’s health is taken care of.

Take photos of the scene, the vehicles involved, the road, any marks the accident may have left and any traffic signs in the area.

Also, take photos and videos of injuries, if there are any. This is critical because an injury will not look the same after it begins to heal.

Notify your insurance company

Notify your insurance company of the accident that took place. State the facts; hopefully, you will already have an attorney by then. If you do, ask the insurance company to speak with your attorney.

Consult a personal injury attorney

One of the most important steps to ensure you get the compensation you deserve is to consult a personal injury lawyer. If you can do this before contacting the insurance company, even better. The sooner you can do this, the better, because the attorney will help and guide you.

Try to stay calm

Stay calm and remember that car accidents happen all the time. Do not feel bad for seeking compensation. This is why laws exist—to protect people hurt in accidents.

Perhaps you cannot go back to work right away, or for a long time and perhaps the accident leaves emotional scars that you will need therapy and medication to get through.

Whatever challenges you face, if the other driver was at fault, you deserve to receive compensation for the harm you suffered.

Please read: Overview Of The Washington Seat Belt Law

Matthew D. Dubin

Matt Dubin has spent more than 20 years honing his skills as one of the top personal injury lawyers in the State of Washington. In his career, Matt has focused on protecting consumers from dangerous household products, medical mistakes, roadway accidents, and many other causes of injury. Matt has recovered nearly $20 million on behalf of his clients.

Education

• License Number: 25378
• University of Washington School of Law, Seattle, Washington – J.D.
• Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut – B.A.

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