With spring on the horizon, we felt it would be an appropriate time to send a reminder of things to do should you or a loved one be involved in an auto accident. The actions that occur in the moments immediately following the accident could have a tremendous impact in the outcome of your accident claim.
Assess Injuries
First and foremost, the health and safety of yourself and others takes precedence. Take a moment to assess the injuries of those involved. Realize that some injuries may take days or weeks before they are noticeable.
First and foremost, the health and safety of yourself and others takes precedence. Take a moment to assess the injuries of those involved. Realize that some injuries may take days or weeks before they are noticeable.
Move Yourself and Others to Safety
Once you have assessed the situation, move everyone to safety out of traffic. If cars are drivable, they should be moved to the side of the road. If they are not mobile, mark them as disable as best as possible using flares or hazard lights and remove all people from the disabled vehicles. If there are serious injuries, do not move the injured persons unless you are trained to do so or if they are in danger. Moving an injured person could cause additional injury.
Once you have assessed the situation, move everyone to safety out of traffic. If cars are drivable, they should be moved to the side of the road. If they are not mobile, mark them as disable as best as possible using flares or hazard lights and remove all people from the disabled vehicles. If there are serious injuries, do not move the injured persons unless you are trained to do so or if they are in danger. Moving an injured person could cause additional injury.
Contact Authorities
Local authorities should then be contacted about the accident, especially if there are injuries involved. If there are no injuries, depending upon the location of the accident, this step may be skipped due to local laws.
Local authorities should then be contacted about the accident, especially if there are injuries involved. If there are no injuries, depending upon the location of the accident, this step may be skipped due to local laws.
Exchange Information
Obtain the insurance information, driver’s license number, and license plate number for every vehicle involved from the other driver or drivers involved in the accident.
Obtain the insurance information, driver’s license number, and license plate number for every vehicle involved from the other driver or drivers involved in the accident.
Take Photos of the Scene
Nearly all cell phones have cameras on them, use it to help document the accident scene. Be sure to take pictures of the vehicles involved as well as things like sight lines, skid marks, wet pavement, debris field and even the drivers themselves. This will help paint the picture of how the accident may have occurred.
Nearly all cell phones have cameras on them, use it to help document the accident scene. Be sure to take pictures of the vehicles involved as well as things like sight lines, skid marks, wet pavement, debris field and even the drivers themselves. This will help paint the picture of how the accident may have occurred.
Seek Medical Attention
Many brain and spine injury symptom develop in the days and weeks after an accident. You should seek medical attention even if you do not believe you have been injured.
Many brain and spine injury symptom develop in the days and weeks after an accident. You should seek medical attention even if you do not believe you have been injured.
Do Not Talk to Insurance Companies
It is possible a representative from an insurance company will arrive to help expedite the claims process. If an insurance rep shows up do not talk to them, even if they are form your insurance provider. The police will take statements from those involved and make it official record. Making multiple statements may create conflicting information that could be used against you.
It is possible a representative from an insurance company will arrive to help expedite the claims process. If an insurance rep shows up do not talk to them, even if they are form your insurance provider. The police will take statements from those involved and make it official record. Making multiple statements may create conflicting information that could be used against you.
Contact an Attorney
After you or a loved one is involved in an accident, consider hiring an attorney. This is especially if you have been injured or have been offered a settlement by and insurance company.
After you or a loved one is involved in an accident, consider hiring an attorney. This is especially if you have been injured or have been offered a settlement by and insurance company.
If
you are in need of legal counsel due to an automobile accident, contact the team at Hopkins, Barvie and Hopkins, PLLC.
Our team has the skills and experience to help you get the compensation you
deserve!
