Any time you get behind the wheel and hit the open road, you know that you could be involved in an accident. While you do your best to avoid this, other drivers may not take the same approach.
If you find yourself in an accident, it’s imperative that you take all the right steps. Doing so will help ease the tension. It will also help you receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries and damages.
5 Steps to Take
It goes without saying that you’ll be shaken up if you’re involved in a car accident. This is only natural, especially if you’re going through this for the first time.
However, you need to take a deep breath, attempt to remain calm, and make sure that you’re doing everything you can to better the situation.
Here are five steps you should take:
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Health Check
Above all else, make sure you check yourself for injuries. Even if you feel relatively okay after an accident, you don’t want to assume that you escaped without injury.
From head to toe, make sure you check yourself over. Along with this, pay attention to how you feel. Remember, some injuries don’t present symptoms right away.
Note: you should also help check on any passengers in your vehicle at the time of the accident, such as children who may not be able to do so on their own.
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Exchange Information
Whether or not you take on this step depends on the severity of the accident. If you are seriously injured, you won’t be able to exit the vehicle and exchange information with the other driver. Instead, your health is the only thing that matters.
If you are able to do this, exchange the following details: name, phone number, email address, license plate number, driver’s license number, and insurance policy information.
Along with the above, don’t hesitate to speak with witnesses who can back up your claim that the other party was at fault. You’ll want to collect contact information for each witness, as you may need to contact these people in the future.
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Get Medical Treatment
Although you may not be excited about the idea of receiving medical treatment, it’s something you may have to do after a car accident.
If you’re too injured to drive yourself to the hospital, stay put and wait for an ambulance to arrive. It’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your health.
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Contact Your Insurance Company
This is when things can get a bit tricky. On one side of things, you need to contact your insurance company to report the accident. Furthermore, it’s safe to say that you want to do this sooner rather than later.
On the other side of the equation, you don’t want to say too much about the accident. Your goal is to eventually receive compensation. If you say the wrong thing, this could work against you in the future.
Tip: if you’re uncomfortable speaking with any insurance company, it’s best to first consult with a car accident attorney.
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Get Legal Help
With an experienced attorney on your side, you won’t have to worry about saying or doing the wrong thing.
This person can help you communicate with insurance companies. He or she can also explain your legal rights, such as whether you have a lawsuit. We discuss this on our website, noting the following:
“Although you may have been involved in an automobile accident, it does not necessarily mean you are in position to file a lawsuit. Fortunately, we have the experience and knowledge necessary to help you understand how to move forward.”
Since there is so much gray area in regards to filing a lawsuit after a vehicle accident, it’s best to consult with an experienced legal team as soon as possible.
At our law firm, we have helped many car accident victims receive compensation for their injuries and other damages.
If you find yourself in this position, if a loved one has been injured in an accident, don’t hesitate to contact us. Once you have our team on your side, you’ll feel much better about the future.
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