If you have been involved in an automobile accident, there are some things that you should do no matter who is at fault. It is essential to preserve evidence as much as possible by taking steps to prevent any further injury or damage to your vehicle. In addition, it is advisable that if you do not currently have a personal injury attorney, you should contact one and advise them of the accident and your injuries in this regard.
1) Contact the police: It is essential to call 911 immediately after an automobile accident, advise authorities that an accident has occurred, and request law enforcement to investigate it. You may also want to ask for medical assistance for any injuries you have sustained in the accident. In many cases, there may be a delay between your call to 911 and when law enforcement can arrive on the scene. It may become more challenging to determine who caused the accident or who is at fault during this time. Therefore, if possible, wait until a law enforcement officer arrives on the scene before moving your car.
2) Exchange information with the other driver(s): If possible, after calling 911, you should get out of your car and take pictures of how badly damaged your vehicle is, in addition to taking pictures of the damage that has been sustained by the other car or cars involved in the accident. You may also wish to take pictures of the road conditions, the weather conditions, and any visible skid marks on the road. You should also take down other information at the scene, such as the other driver’s name, their insurance company’s name, address, and telephone number if possible.
3) Call an attorney: After calling 911, you should call a personal injury lawyer immediately. When you call your attorney, you should advise them that an accident has occurred and that you have been injured as a result of it. In addition, you should provide the attorney with the other driver’s information to contact them regarding the case. It is essential not to discuss what happened during the conversation with the other driver or their insurance company. Your attorney must be able to speak and work with the other driver’s attorney to ensure that you receive compensation for your injuries.
4) Seek medical attention: No matter how minor your injuries may appear, it is essential to seek medical attention immediately after the accident as there may be hidden injuries. Moreover, it is essential to remember that you will need medical evidence to prove your injuries in a personal injury case. You may also wish to take photographs of your injuries immediately after the accident occurs and again one day later. This will allow you to show how your injuries have progressed or otherwise changed since you were initially injured.
5) Preserve evidence: There are several things you can do to preserve your vehicle and any other physical evidence for your case. First, you should not wash the car or damage anything on it until after you have spoken with an attorney. This is so that they can advise you of what to preserve and why.
