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7 steps to take after a car accident

On Behalf of | Mar 29, 2021 | Motor Vehicle Accidents |

In an instant, a car accident can change your life. You just could be on your way to work and a large SUV rams into the rear of your car. You could suffer serious injuries – broken bones, a traumatic brain injury and a back injury. Or a distracted driver could fail to see a red light and plow through an intersection, causing you to suffer severe whiplash, a spinal injury and internal bleeding.

In those moments after a serious crash, you are still in shock. You might feel numb and uncertain of what to do next. Here are seven steps you can take after a car accident that will help you in your insurance property damage and personal injury claim.

1.       Call 911 and report the accident. You want to have police respond to the accident and make a police report about what happened. You want an ambulance to arrive if you or someone else suffered a serious injury in the crash.

2.       Don’t admit fault for the accident. Don’t admit fault for the accident to police, the other driver or any witnesses. You may not be as at-fault for the accident as you think. If you admit fault, you can hamper your ability to recover maximum compensation for any injuries you suffer.

3.       Get the other driver’s name, address, phone number and vehicle insurance information for your insurance claim.

4.       Don’t neglect getting medical treatment and following your doctor’s treatment plan. If you suffered serious injuries and were transported to the hospital, you will need medical records that show how severe your injuries were. If you wake up days after the accident with debilitating back pain, you need to seek medical help immediately. You also need to follow your doctor’s treatment plan to recover from your injuries. If you don’t, you can compromise the injury compensation you receive.

5.       Write down any information about what you remember about the accident and take photos of the accident with your cell phone if you can. You want all the documentation you can have as to how the accident occurred.

6.       Report the accident to your insurance provider to begin your damage and injury claim.

7.       Consult with a personal injury attorney if you suffered a serious injury and will miss significant time from work and need lengthy medical treatment. An attorney can help you get the personal injury compensation you need to cover your medical bills, lost wages and more after a vehicle accident.

Taking the right steps after an accident will help you move forward with your life. You will limit the challenges you will face in getting compensation for your damaged vehicle or your accident injuries. You will be able to instead focus on your recovery and getting your life more back to normal.

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