Car accidents are unfortunate events that we rarely think about. However, it's important to know what to do in case you find yourself in one.
Millions of car accidents occur in the United States every year, so there's a good chance you will be involved in at least one in your lifetime.
So when that day comes, it is essential to be prepared.
Here's how to report an injury after an accident.
If you're injured in a car accident, there's a chance you'll miss work and end up with thousands of dollars in medical bills.
If you were involved in an accident caused by another driver's negligence, you should pursue compensation for your damages and have your medical bills covered.
In the article below, we will discuss five things you should do after a car accident.
Table of Contents
- Check For Injuries And Move To A Safe Spot
- Call The Police
- Gather Information and Take Pictures
- Call A Lawyer
- Seek Medical Care
1. Check For Injuries And Move To A Safe Spot
The first thing you need to do after an auto accident is to pull over to the side of the road and check for injuries.
If you can, move your vehicle to a safe spot on the side of the road or in a parking lot so you are out of the way of traffic.
Turn off your car and turn your hazard lights on.
Check for injuries to yourself, and make sure everyone else is okay, even after a minor car accident.
If you or anyone else is injured, you should call law enforcement and EMTs for help.
You will also need to keep track of all of your medical expenses after the accident if you have any accident injuries.
Your insurance company, more specifically your insurance agent, will need this information to decide how much to pay out for your injury claim.
Now you can check for property damage and call the police.
2. Call The Police
Once you've moved your car out of harm's way, you should call the police to report the accident.
You should call the police to the accident scene even if there are only minor injuries or property damage. This is required in many states.
The police will make an accident report, which will help your personal injury attorney evaluate your case against the at-fault driver.
A police report is often a crucial piece of evidence in personal injury claims.
The report will explain the officer's opinion of what happened in the accident (like if there were adverse weather conditions), document the parties involved, and provide more information the attorneys and insurance adjusters can use.
Ask the responding officer for their name and badge number and the report number so you can obtain a copy when it is ready.
While you're waiting, do all you can to avoid small talk.
Don't offer opinions of what caused the accident or place blame on others.
Gather the necessary information from your insurance policy and exchange insurance details with the other drivers while you wait.
The less you say at the scene of the accident regarding the crash to the police officers or other involved parties, the better.
3. Gather Information and Take Pictures
While you're waiting for the police and emergency services to arrive, you should exchange information with the other driver.
Get their insurance information and their name, contact information, driver's license numbers, license plate, car, make and model from them as well.
And again, do not make any public statements that could be construed as admitting liability, and never apologize.
Even if it seems like you were at fault, it's possible that the other driver was negligent in some way.
That's why it is best to speak at a minimum and stick to what you know.
Avoid giving opinionated oral or written statements, and do not post about the accident on social media.
Document the damage done to the vehicles, including taking pictures of the damage and any other relevant evidence of the accident.
This could include pictures of skid marks, malfunctioning stoplights, etc.
If there were any witnesses to the accident, talk to them about what they saw and obtain their contact information.
4. Call a Lawyer
Every accident victim should contact accident attorneys, especially if they received medical care or had property damage.
It's essential for your accident claim to keep a record of your doctor visits and any treatments you receive.
If your vehicle was damaged, keep a record of any repairs that were completed.
Then speak with an accident lawyer and tell them about your vehicle accident, your medical treatment, and any other relevant information they can use to evaluate your case.
And you will need legal representation.
Choosing experienced personal injury attorneys to work with after an automobile accident will help you get the compensation you are entitled to.
The insurance claims process is complicated, and you shouldn't try to do it on your own.
5. Seek Medical Care
Every accident victim needs to see a medical professional after their accident.
If you don't need emergency medical attention at the scene of the accident, you should schedule an appointment with an accident doctor as soon as you can afterward.
Even if you don't think you need medical assistance, you may have delayed car accident symptoms, like headaches or bruising, that show up hours, days, or weeks later.
The symptoms can point to more serious, underlying injuries.
It's essential to seek a medical evaluation for your health, and it's also crucial if you want to file an insurance claim.
Insurance companies will want to see that you sought medical attention soon after an accident.
If you don't see a doctor or wait too long to see a doctor, your insurance company may claim your injuries aren't severe or unrelated to the accident, so they don't have to give you the compensation you deserve.
Visit Arrowhead Clinic
If you were involved in an accident that caused an injury, you should contact an experienced Chiropractor for treatment and pain relief.
Arrowhead Clinic has a team of chiropractors specializing in helping accident victims return to their normal health and function.
Each patient gets a free consultation so we can find out the source of your pain and give you the appropriate care.
If you are ready to be pain-free after your motor vehicle accident, click below to schedule your initial free consultation and begin chiropractic care today!
