Did you know that 20-50 million people are injured in car accidents each year?
Of this number, 1.25 million car accidents involve fatalities.
Car accidents may be common, but it can be difficult knowing what to do after you’ve received an injury. Regardless of how severe the injury, there are some important steps to take for legal and medical purposes.
In this post, we discuss what you should do after sustaining a car accident injury. Keep reading for insight!
1. Take Appropriate Emergency Steps
No matter the severity of the collision, call 9-1-1 immediately. This will enable police officers to arrive at the scene, survey the damage, and create a report.
If you feel as if you’ve sustained any injuries, request an ambulance. If there are other passengers in your car, inspect them for any injuries as well.
It’s important to keep the collision scene as it is for documentation purposes! For this reason, don’t move your vehicle unless directed. If you have safety cones or flags, set these up around the scene and flick on your vehicle’s hazards.
2. Exchange Driver Information
While you’re waiting for police to arrive, communicate with the other driver. Whatever you do, don’t admit fault! This can be vital for legal steps down the road.
You should exchange contact information, insurance details, and license plate numbers with the other driver(s). Have this information ready to give to the police, too.
Once the police draw up a report, ask for a copy. Documentation is always important when it comes to car accidents.
If you can, take your own pictures of the collision scene. Snap pics of vehicle damage, skid marks, and personal injuries. If there are any witnesses, such as passersby, ask them what they saw. You can record this on your phone or in writing.
3. Seek Medical Attention & Call Your Insurance Company
If necessary, seek medical attention right away for your car accident injury. Make sure to document medical procedures, medication, etc.
Ask your doctor for a written statement about treatment and diagnosis. This can be valuable if you have to go to court for personal injury.
After you’ve done this, report the collision immediately to your insurance company. The sooner you do this the better! This way, your company can get started immediately on claims processing.
You should report to your insurance company regardless of whose fault the accident was.
4. Consult an Attorney
You do have legal rights when it comes to car accidents, no matter who was responsible. To discuss these rights, it’s important to seek out legal professionals.
Contact a personal injury attorney who services your area. Most will offer free consultations to identify next steps. When you meet with an attorney, bring all relevant documentation with you.
Your attorney can also help you negotiate insurance claims, medical cost coverage, and loss compensation. Again, this is the case regardless of who caused the accident.
Learn more about personal injury Los Angeles attorneys here.
Your Car Accident Injury
If you’ve received a car accident injury, don’t neglect these important steps!
Following proper protocol can help you get the medical attention you need and the legal assistance necessary to minimize losses. These steps apply no matter how severe the accident is.
Stay safe out there!
