Car accidents happen almost every
single day in America. Thankfully, most of these accidents only cause damage to
the car instead of the passengers. But for the ones that do involve the
occupants, about 2 out of every 10 of these particular incidents lead to a life
threatening injury.
If you or someone else is unlucky enough to get trapped in a car accident,
there are many things that you need to do in order to protect yourself and
anyone else that may have been involved. Here are 10 important things you
should do:
1 Stay at the Scene
This is one of the worst things you can ever do if you get into an accident.
Doing this is called a “hit and run”. Doing a hit and run will not only get you
into legal trouble, it can also lead you right into a jail cell. Stay calm and
stay there.
2 Stay Protected
In order to keep yourself even more protected, always keep a set of flares or
lights around you to ensure that other drivers don’t accidentally run into you
as well. If it is dark outside and/or your car lights are disabled or
destroyed, you need to equip a flashlight as soon as possible. This will keep
you safe while you wait for help. Try to keep various forms of light to be
prepared for any scenario. Consider keeping a flashlight, flares, and candles
in your car in case one doesn’t work out.
3 Phone the Cops
Even if nothing dramatic actually happened, you should still go ahead and call
the police. You might have to do this anyways if you’re planning on filing a
claim with your insurance. This is necessary even if you just want to let them
know that your vehicle was damaged. You might also want to make sure that the
car stays exactly where it was when the accident occurred. Only move it if it
is preventing other people from travelling or disrupting traffic.
4 Report the Incident Exactly
When you are in communication with the police or your insurance, you want to
make sure that you tell them exactly what happened. If you’re unsure of certain
things or can’t remember, tell them that as well. Do not make guesses or
estimates and don’t leave out significant pieces of the story. If they try to
inquire about your injuries and you’re not sure if you have any, tell them
you’re not sure instead of telling them that you don’t. Sometimes injuries can
make themselves known hours or days after the incident. To be extra safe, make
sure you listen in on the other party to ensure that the truth is being told
there as well.
5 Take Pictures or Videos
If you can, take pictures and/or vehicles of the scene and the damage that has
been done to the vehicles. If you’ve been injured, take pictures of the
injuries as well. If you can’t take pictures during, take them afterwards. Be
sure to avoid taking them while the police are there, as that may interrupt
their investigation.
6 Get Important Information
In most cases, the police will get all of the information they need. If they
don’t make sure that you get the names, address, and contact information from
everyone involved in the accident. You might also want to get the information
about both your insurance and the other person’s insurance. Any witnesses
should be addressed as well. If the police are involved, they may give everyone
their contact information. You should keep this in your records for when you
file a report.
7 File a Report
Make sure that you let your insurance know about the incident as soon as you
can. Some insurance providers require that you do so as soon as possible. Along
with that, see if they provide certain benefits including medical care, car
replacement, and any other costs that may be important to you.
8 Go to the Hospital
As mentioned before, some injuries might not be apparent until a few hours or
even days later. Unless you are 100% sure that you’re not injured, you should
try to get seen by a medical professional. It doesn’t matter if you have a tiny
scratch or don’t feel anything at all, there can be many things wrong that can
only be detected by a professional.
9 Keep Your Records
Make sure that even after everything has been handled (insurance, police,
claim, etc.) you keep a copy of everything and keep that information in your
records. Make sure to also include a claim number, contacts, any receipts, and
other information that you believe is significant such as the location of the
accident and vivid descriptions of the vehicles.
10 Enforce Legal Action
The best way to keep a headache out of this is to consult an attorney. Doing
this will protect your rights and ensure that the other party does not try to manipulate
the situation to get you into trouble. This is also important for when you make
your statement to your insurance company. Before you do so, make sure to get
legal advice from your attorney before saying anything and don’t sign anything
unless it is for the police or your insurance company. And even if you have
reason to believe that the accident was your fault, don’t tell anyone that
until you have discussed it with your attorney first. The attorney can help in
making sure you’re getting the medical help, compensation, and other things.
If you’re living in the West Coast and are looking for a personal injury lawyer
or an auto injury lawyer,
the good news is that this area is the best place to seek out a Los
Angeles accident attorney. If you
find yourself in a bind and need a Los Angeles accident attorney, contact West
Coast Trial Lawyers and Lawyers at West Coast Trial Lawyers. This ensures that
you’re getting the best auto
injury lawyer and car accident personal injury lawyer in the country.