Although a car accident might not be something that happens to you often, it’s important to know the right steps to take if you are involved in a collision on the road, including reporting the accident to the police and insurance companies, gathering evidence and making a claim. Knowing how best to respond to any accident from fender benders to major collisions can make all the difference to overcoming the situation and getting back on the road.
Get Medical Help
Detroit MI Auto Accident lawyers recommend that the first thing to do before anything else after a car accident is see if medical help is required by yourself or anybody else involved. If somebody has been seriously injured, it’s important to get medical attention to the scene as quickly as possible and offer first aid if you can. Unless it is unsafe to do so, injured parties should be kept where they are. Bear in mind that people might be in shock after an accident so talk to them and keep them warm until medical assistance arrives. Not only can this step save lives but it can also help strengthen your personal injury claim by providing clear evidence of medical attention straight away.
Reporting the Accident
In most states you will be required to inform the police when you are involved in any road accident. Having a police report for the incident will also strengthen your future insurance claim. When they visit the scene, the cops can also help you with collecting evidence from witnesses and any CCTV cameras that are in the area, which can be useful if you are dealing with a hit-and-run driver who has left the scene without allowing you to get their information, or if it’s difficult to prove who was at fault going by the crash alone. Once you have reported the accident to the police, report it to your insurance company.
Collect Evidence
Collecting as much evidence from the scene as you can will strengthen your insurance claim and any personal injury claim that you make in the future. Get photos of your vehicle from all angles and speak to any witnesses who might have seen the accident happen to get their contact information to pass on to your insurer. Speak to other drivers who have stopped at the scene to see if they have any dash cam footage you can use to support your claim.
Get Legal Support and Advice
You may find it helpful to speak to an attorney who can help you navigate the various stages of reporting and dealing with your car accident claim. This is especially important if you want to make a personal injury claim against the other driver, which is not advisable to do on your own. A lawyer can help you make sense of the legal jargon and speed up your case while helping you get the right settlement for damages to your vehicle, health, finances and more.
While most drivers hope that they won’t have to put these steps in action, knowing what to do in the event of a car crash is important for anyone before getting behind the wheel.
