Top Things to Do After a Vehicle-Collision

After a vehicle-collision, what do most drivers reach for?

Their cell phones.

Immediately after a crash, all you want to do is call somebody you love to let them know what happened. It makes sense. Car accidents are terrifying, and hearing a familiar voice can help take the edge off.

However, reaching out to a loved one should be the last thing you do, not the first. What is the first thing you should do after a car accident? Read on to find out.

Put Safety First

After a vehicle collision, the first thing on your mind should be safety. Your adrenaline will be pumping, raising your heart rate, and lowering your decision-making abilities. It’s the moments following a car accident that people are most prone to making unsafe choices that can worsen a bad situation.

To keep yourself and your passengers as safe as possible, take a deep breath. As you exhale, take a moment to look around at your surroundings. Are you an immediate danger?

For instance, is your car in the middle of the road? If possible, it’s always a good idea to move your vehicle safely off the road.

However, your vehicle might not be drivable, or you might not be in the proper condition to drive. If this is the case, carefully get yourself and passengers off the road. Even though your car will still be in the flow of traffic, as long as your body is out of the way of danger, you’ll be in the best position.

What if you’re injured, and you can’t move, or it’s painful to move? Whenever there’s an injury, it’s going to be in your best interest to stay put. If there’s some type of spinal injury, the movement could make it worse.

Call the Police Immediately

What if you’re involved in a minor accident? Should you still call the cops? Absolutely!

Whenever there’s a car accident, you’ll want to file a police report. If you don’t have a police report, you’ll wind up in he said she said battle.

Without a police report, you might have to pay for all of the damages, including your medical bills, out of pocket. Whereas having a police report will help give you the evidence you need to prove your innocence.

If you’re the one who caused the car accident, you should still file a police report. You never know when the other driver might be partially at fault.

Perhaps they were breaking erratically or swerved into your lane. Don’t assume full liability just because you hit somebody’s car from behind.

When you call the police, try to be as factual as possible. The recording could be used in your insurance claim or even in a court case.

By sticking to the facts, you’ll be putting yourself in the best position if a personal injury case should arise. You should also let the 911 operator know that you need police and medical attention.

When to Seek Medical Attention After an Auto Accident

Should you always seek medical attention after a car accident? We think so. As we said, after a car accident, your adrenaline will be pumping.

Even if you don’t appear to have any injuries, the heightened emotions could be masking the pain. Suppose you don’t seek immediate medical attention. In that case, you’re going to have trouble proving cause and effect during a personal injury claim.

For instance, let’s say you get into a minor fender bender, and you’re only going 20 mph. There’s minimal damage to the vehicles, and you’re not feeling any pain.

Instead of calling the cops, you and the other driver, decide to go on about your day. However, 24 hours later, you start to notice a pain in your neck.

Over the week, the pain continues to get worse and worse. Before you know it, you’re calling out of work and reaching out to your doctor. Chances are, you’re suffering from a mild to severe case of whiplash.

Whiplash can happen at speeds as low as 5 mph, and it can be a detrimental injury. If you don’t seek immediate medical attention or file a police report, you’re going to be hard-pressed when it comes to seeking compensation. Instead, you’re going to have to pay for all of your medical bills out of pocket.

What Type of Car Accident Requires a Lawyer?

Should you reach out to a personal injury lawyer? That’s going to depend on the nature of the vehicle-collision.

If there are significant damages or injuries, it’s always a good idea to seek a free consultation. For instance, semi truck accidents almost always warrant a call for legal help.

Many personal injury lawyers are willing to meet with you free of charge to assess the validity of your case. If they think that you have a case worth pursuing, they’ll be able to assist you or point you in the right direction.

If you’re worried about making payments, ask the lawyer if they can work on a contingency fee basis. A contingency fee basis simply means that the lawyer will keep a percentage of your settlement award when you win your case.

If you don’t win the case, you won’t have to pay the contingency fee. However, it’s good to note that specific contingency arrangements still involve other fees. Ensure that you fully understand what you have to pay, whether or not you win your case, before agreeing to work with anyone lawyer.

Another situation where calling a lawyer comes in handy is if the insurance company is denying your claim. There are strict laws that the insurance company has to abide by, and if they violate them, it’s your right to do something about it. Unfairly denying claims, or inaccurately assessing the auto accident, are both grounds for a claim denial appeal.

Getting Your Life Back on Track After a Vehicle-Collision

Knowing what to do after a vehicle-collision means knowing how to stand up for your rights. Instead of letting fear and adrenaline make your choices, you’ll be making decisions from a place of power.

Reach out to your friends and family members today, and let them know what you learn from this article. By raising awareness of what to do after car accidents, you’ll be able to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. For more ways to stay safe, take a look around the rest of our website.