It is highly likely that you will become a victim of an accident one day. Most victims are not aware of what they should do after an accident. They don’t know that the actions they take following an accident can have a significant impact on their lives.
If you are a victim of an accident, you might be in need of a personal injury lawyer. You may think you don’t need a lawyer, but you do. Think about it, do you know what to do after an accident? Do you know about the strategies an insurance company will use to lowball you? You probably don’t, right? This is why you need a lawyer because they know about these things and more.
Immediate Actions to Take Following an Accident
File a Police Report
Regardless of the severity of the accident, you must file a police report. In some states, it is illegal to leave the accident scene before the police arrive. In addition, the police will create a report that consists of information like the time and location of the accident, witness testimonies, and involved parties’ testimonies. This report can play a crucial role in proving negligence.
Seek Medical Attention
You may think you are fine, but that is not a reason to skip a medical checkup. Some injuries don’t show any symptoms for a long time. You may not be able to find those injuries if you skip medical attention. And because of the statute of limitations rule, you may not be able to claim compensation even if you find out about the injury later. Also, the law requires the victim to work on mitigating the injuries. Not getting medical attention may look like you are intentionally making your injuries worse to claim more compensation.
Exchange Information with the Involved Parties
You need to exchange insurance and contact information with the involved parties to be able to contact them later on. You should inform both your insurance company and their insurance company about the accident immediately. Once you inform them, they will start working on the claim process.
Get Contact Information of Witnesses
Many could have witnessed the accident. You must collect the contact information of all of them. It will be useful when you do file a claim. It will make the lawyer’s work a bit easier. The witnesses will have different perspectives on the accident and can support your claim greatly.
Take Photos of the Accident Scene and Your Injuries
Photos and videos are great pieces of evidence that help prove your case. Take photos of the accident scene and any relevant information. Like, if it is a slip and fall accident caused by a lack of warning signs, take pictures of the lack of signs. Also, take pictures of your injuries. This can prove that you have suffered injuries and the severity of those injuries.
Hire a Lawyer
Hiring a lawyer is the best course of action you can take following an accident. A lawyer can help investigate the case, determine negligence, collect evidence, draft a demand letter, negotiate with the insurance company, and obtain fair compensation. You can miss out on these things by not hiring a lawyer. You don’t have to worry about their fee since they work on a contingency fee arrangement. Unless you win, you don’t have to pay.
Document Your Expenses
Calculating your losses is an important part of personal injury cases. Your lawyers will take care of that, but you can make that easier by documenting your expenses. Just keep a journal and note down all the expenses you incur as a direct result of the accident. This will make it easy to calculate economic losses.
Final Thoughts
Hope this blog post helped you learn about the immediate actions you need to take following an accident. If you want to know more, speak with a lawyer. They can offer free initial consultations and clear up your queries.
