What to do after a car accident?
A car wreck can happen in seconds, but the decisions you make afterward can affect your health, your insurance claim, and your ability to recover compensation. Whether the crash happens in Lubbock, elsewhere in Texas, or in New Mexico, knowing what to do at the scene can help protect you and preserve important evidence.
Here are eight important steps to consider after a car accident.
1. Check for Injuries
Your first priority should be safety. Check yourself and your passengers for injuries and determine whether anyone else involved in the collision needs immediate medical assistance.
Call 911 if anyone is injured or if you are unsure about the seriousness of an injury. Some injuries may not be obvious immediately after a crash.
2. Move to a Safe Location
If you are able to do so safely, move away from traffic and other immediate hazards. Depending on the circumstances, this may mean moving your vehicle to the side of the road or remaining in a safe location until emergency personnel arrive.
Do not put yourself in danger trying to inspect vehicle damage in active traffic.
3. Call the Police
Contact law enforcement and report the accident. An officer may investigate the crash, speak with the drivers and witnesses, document the scene, and prepare an accident report.
A police report can become an important piece of evidence when an insurance company later evaluates who caused the collision.
4. Document the Accident
If you can safely do so, gather as much information as possible before leaving the scene.
Take photographs or videos of the vehicles, property damage, roadway, traffic signs or signals, skid marks, debris, and any visible injuries. Exchange names, contact information, driver’s license information, license plate numbers, and insurance information with the other drivers.
If anyone witnessed the accident, ask for their name and contact information as well.
5. Avoid Admitting Fault
Be cooperative with law enforcement and exchange the required information, but avoid making statements such as “I’m sorry” or accepting responsibility for the accident before all of the facts are known.
Car wrecks are not always as straightforward as they initially appear. Witness statements, vehicle data, photographs, video footage, traffic laws, and other evidence may ultimately determine who was responsible.
6. Report the Accident to Your Insurance Company
Most insurance policies require policyholders to provide timely notice of an accident. Report the collision to your insurance company and provide the information necessary to open the claim.
Be careful when speaking with insurance adjusters, particularly representatives of another driver’s insurance company. An adjuster may ask for a recorded statement or seek information that could later be used to reduce or deny your claim.
You have the right to speak with an attorney before providing a statement or accepting a settlement offer.
7. Get Medical Attention
Do not ignore pain or other symptoms simply because you were able to walk away from the accident. Neck injuries, back injuries, concussions, soft-tissue injuries, and other conditions may become more noticeable in the hours or days following a collision.
Seek appropriate medical care and explain all of your symptoms to your medical provider. Following medical recommendations is important for your health and can also create documentation of your injuries.
8. Consider Speaking With a Car Accident Attorney
Insurance companies handle claims every day. Most people injured in a car wreck do not.
A personal injury attorney can investigate the collision, preserve evidence, review available insurance coverage, communicate with insurance companies, evaluate your damages, negotiate a potential settlement, and determine whether litigation may be necessary.
Before accepting an insurance settlement, make sure you understand what you are agreeing to. Once a claim is released, you may lose the ability to seek additional compensation even if your injuries turn out to be more serious than you originally believed.
What Compensation May Be Available After a Car Wreck?
Depending on the circumstances, an injured person may be able to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, physical impairment, property damage, and other losses caused by the accident.
Every case is different, and the amount of compensation available depends on the facts, injuries, insurance coverage, and applicable law.
Injured in a Car Wreck? Contact Vanderpool Law Firm
Vanderpool Law Firm represents individuals injured in car wrecks and other accidents caused by negligence. We can review what happened, explain your legal options, communicate with insurance companies, and help determine the appropriate next steps for your claim.
Personal injury cases may be handled on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront attorney’s fees and the attorney’s fee is an agreed-upon percentage of the compensation recovered, subject to the written fee agreement.
Contact Vanderpool Law Firm to request a free, confidential case evaluation.