What to Do After a Car Accident

Accidents happen, all you can do is prepare for that moment they happen.

Get Help — The first thing to do after a car accident is to call the police and seek medical attention for anyone who has been hurt. Remember that injuries sustained in a car accident may worsen significantly with time, so it is important to seek medical treatment, even if your injuries do not seem severe.

Wait at the scene of the accident for police to arrive. Do not leave, as this is a serious criminal offense. Unless they pose an immediate danger to others, do not move the cars involved in the accident as this may affect an investigation.

Collect evidence — Take pictures of the scene of the accident, any damage sustained and general road conditions. Take notes on what happened. Collect names and contact information for all witnesses and be sure to ask for the insurance information of the other drivers if the police do not do so for you.

All of this information will be useful to your case, so it is important to be thorough. Keep it all together in a file after the accident along with insurance information and insurance receipts or bills for any expenses incurred as a result of the wreck. Examples of these expenses include items such as medical bills, rental car invoices, proof of towing expenses and receipts for any prescriptions filled for medications prescribed as a result of the injuries you suffered in the collision.

Stay Calm — Car accidents can be traumatic, and people may not act as they typically would under different circumstances. Stay as calm as possible, especially if others at the scene are angry or upset. Becoming emotional is a normal response to experiencing something as scary as an accident, but it will not serve you well in reaching a final resolution.

Contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible — A personal injury attorney will protect your rights and advise you on how to best proceed. Insurance companies do not play fair and will try to pay you less than you deserve. An attorney can make sure this does not happen, and that you receive the compensation you are entitled to make you whole again.