What To Do After a Car Accident: Step-by-Step
What you do at the accident scene and onward has a significant impact on whether or not you can recover compensation.
Here is a step-by-step guide to what to do after a car accident:
Assess Your Injuries
First, you should check yourself and your passengers for injuries. If anyone is hurt, call 911 or ask anyone nearby to do it for you. If you have serious injuries, do not move. Wait for emergency services to arrive.
Relocate to Safety
If you can, move your car to the side of the road or a safe place. If not, get out of the car and find a safe spot away from traffic. Turn on your hazard lights and use road flares or reflective emergency triangles from your emergency kit to warn other drivers.
Contact Emergency Services
If you and the others involved are okay, contact a non-emergency police number to report the accident. However, you should still seek medical attention after the accident to make sure everything is really okay.
Once the police arrive, they will write a police or accident report that documents the facts of the incident, including the date, time, location, cause, and drivers and motor vehicles involved. The report will also include statements from witnesses and evidence. You will need this report for your auto insurance claim and any legal action. Ensure you take the police officer’s name and badge number.
Exchange Information
You should exchange your contact and insurance information with the other car driver. Get the other driver’s insurance company, name, address, phone number, policy number, driver’s license number, and license plate number. You should also give them your information. Do not admit fault or apologize for the accident, as this could affect your claim. You should also avoid discussing the details of the accident with the other driver or the bystanders.
Document the Incident
Take pictures and videos of where the accident occurred and the damage caused to the involved cars. You should capture the position of the cars on the road from multiple angles. Also, take notes of the weather and road conditions.
Make sure to take pictures of skid marks or debris, street signs or signals, and any injuries you or anyone else suffered. These photos and videos will help you determine liability and support your claim.
Consult a Car Accident Attorney
Before moving forward, it’s crucial to consult an attorney. From this point on, things will get complicated and require legal knowledge and negotiation skills. An experienced car accident attorney will give you personalized legal counsel about what should be done and how to do it.
A lawyer may also be better suited to estimate your damages and losses, such as
Initiate the Claim Process
At some point after the accident, you will need to notify your insurance company, which in turn will notify the other driver’s insurer. After investigating the case and preparing your case, your lawyer will file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
The insurance company will assign an adjuster to investigate the accident, determine liability, and decide on a settlement amount if your claim is valid. Your lawyer will negotiate with the adjuster for a fair settlement.
You must know that insurance companies will always try to avoid paying you. An experienced attorney may be your only chance at settling out of court. However, if negotiations fail, you can take your claim to court.
Do you need further legal assistance in Atlanta, GA? Reach out to us at the Dressie Law Firm today.
