In 2018, there were over 4.5 million injuries as a result of a bad car accident and nearly 40,000 deaths due to car accidents.
Although the safety of motor vehicles has increased significantly throughout the 20th and 21st century, this is still a staggering number.
If you’ve been involved in a bad car accident, there are a few things you should do immediately after. Use our guide to know what to protect yourself and others.
Stay and Secure the Scene
The worst thing you can do after being involved in a car accident is flee the scene, especially if you were a driver and were a cause of the accident.
Don’t leave the scene, and if you are able to, try to secure the scene.
Put up road flares if available, move the vehicles from the road if that is a possibility, and get far away from the scene if there is a fire or risk of explosion. This is also a good time to check for any injuries that you or your passengers may have and if there were others involved, assess their needs as well.
Call the Police
A bad car accident always requires a call to the police. They will come to further secure the scene, assess the damage, work with you to remove the vehicles, and complete an accident report.
You can’t file an insurance claim for an accident without a police report as well, so this is a necessary step. If they suspect that any of the drivers were under the influence of drugs or alcohol, police can also order roadside sobriety tests or get a warrant for a test at the hospital.
This is important because if you end up filing a lawsuit, you will want the police to have documented that the other driver or drivers were under the influence.
Seek Medical Attention
You might think that you don’t have any injuries, but remember that your adrenaline is probably surging and that can mask any pain you may be having due to injuries.
You could have internal injuries or bleeding that you aren’t aware of. Left untreated, internal bleeding could actually result in death even though you feel ok.
Even less serious injuries may not be apparent immediately after the crash.
Many car accident victims don’t report feeling injuries until the next day or two after the crash. Whiplash, back injuries, headaches, and bruised or broken ribs are some of the most common car accident injuries and they are often delayed.
If you seek medical attention immediately following the accident, go to a local emergency room. If it is a delayed injury, you often will need to go to a doctor that specializes in car accident injuries, as many primary care physicians (PCPs) do not handle these injuries. Most PCPs only work with health insurance companies, not the car insurance companies that typically pay for these injuries.
Take Pictures
With the proliferation of camera phones, it’s easy to take pictures of the accident scene and vehicles involved. Take as many pictures as you can to document the scene, damage to the area, and the vehicles involved.
Try to take these pictures as soon as possible after the accident, but be sure not to interfere with any police investigation that is ongoing.
You should also take pictures of your injuries, scrapes, bruises, and any other marks on you or your passengers.
Exchange Information
You will need to exchange insurance and contact information with the other drivers involved in the accident.
You can do this before the police get there or they will often facilitate this and include it all in the accident report. Because you might have to wait a day or two for the accident report, it’s a good idea to exchange information on your own.
Use your camera phone to take a picture of their license and insurance card and allow them to do the same for you. If there are witnesses to the crash, you should also get their contact information. If there is a lawsuit down the line, your attorney will likely want to contact them to depose them.
Notify Your Insurance Company
As soon as you can, you should notify your insurance company and start a claim. They will determine who was at fault and if it was the other driver or drivers, they will typically go after their insurance company to pay.
Your insurance company may also help you find a doctor who specializes in car accident injuries if you need to see a doctor a few days after the accident.
Contact an Attorney
If another driver was at fault in your accident, their insurance company may try to settle with you. Don’t accept any settlement they are offering without speaking to an attorney.
They are looking out for their bottom line, meaning they want to get you to settle for the lowest amount possible. This might be significantly lower than what you are entitled to.
An experienced attorney focusing on car accidents and personal injuries can negotiate on your behalf and advise you of what a fair settlement may be. If the insurance company refuses to compensate you adequately, your case may go to trial, where your attorney will represent you.
Don’t Let a Bad Car Accident Ruin Your Life
A bad car accident can be traumatizing. Not only that, but it can also have significant negative impacts on your physical health, mental health, and your finances.
Seeking legal advice can help mitigate these impacts and help ensure you get any compensation you are entitled to.
If you’ve been involved in a serious accident, contact us today for a free consultation regarding your case.
Posted in: Car Accidents