A car accident is a frightening experience, and its aftermath can lead to stressful personal finance woes.
Medical expenses after a car wreck might be costly. If your injuries prevent you from working, you might not know how you’ll pay your bills. In addition, you may have bills for repairing a damaged vehicle.
A car insurance company may be responsible for compensating you for such losses. Your odds of receiving fair compensation may be greater if you know what steps to take after a car accident.
If you were involved in a car accident, Munley Law is here to help. Contact our car crash attorneys today to schedule a free consultation. There is no fee unless we win.
Call Us At 844-686-5397 Step 1: Ensure Safety and Call 9-1-1
Take the following steps immediately after a crash:
- Check yourself and your passengers to confirm everyone is safe. Tend to any injuries requiring immediate attention if you can do so safely.
- Assess the situation to determine how to relocate safely to a different spot. Don’t drive your vehicle unless you can do so safely.
- If you have road flares or reflectors, place them near your vehicle so approaching drivers know about the wreck. However, don’t take this step if you cannot do so safely. If you don’t have flares or reflectors, you should at least turn on your hazard lights.
Once you are safe, call 9-1-1 immediately. Let them know that you were in a car accident, where the accident occurred, how many vehicles were involved, and if anyone was injured.
It’s essential that you call emergency services right away, even if the accident is minor. You will need the police report later on when you file an insurance claim.
Step 2: Exchange Information With Other Drivers
While you’re waiting for emergency services to arrive, calmly approach the other drivers to exchange insurance information and contact information. Remember the following advice when doing so:
- Avoid discussing fault. You may be angry because you believe the other driver caused the car crash. However, accusing them of causing the wreck may lead to a confrontation.
- Always get the other driver’s information. Don’t let the other driver convince you that you can “settle” the matter at the accident scene. Get their insurance and registration information as soon as possible.
- Get the contact information of other passengers. If there are any passengers in the other vehicles, get their contact information as well.
Repeat this process with the drivers of all vehicles involved in the car accident. Even if you’re sure you know who the at-fault driver is, it’s helpful to gather contact and insurance information from all the drivers involved in the crash.
Step 3: Document the Auto Accident Scene
Photos can serve as valuable evidence when you file an insurance claim. Tips to keep in mind when photographing the aftermath of an auto accident include:
- Capture as much detail as possible by taking pictures from multiple angles.
- Ensure your pictures depict all property damage. Be aware that property damage may include damage to the vehicle’s exterior and interior.
- Don’t forget to take pictures of the whole scene. Take photos of the traffic signs or signals and the road condition. These may have played a part in the accident.
- When photographing a vehicle, capture the license plate. Write down the license plate number of any vehicle whose driver tries to leave the scene before the police arrive.
Step 4: Get Contact Information From Witnesses
Gather contact information from witnesses who witnessed the auto accident. When doing so:
- Ask if witnesses would be willing to provide recorded statements at the scene.
- Ask the witnesses how much of the wreck they remember seeing.
- Ask witnesses if they would stay on the scene until the police arrive. They may need to provide statements for a police report.
J. Christopher Munley
James Christopher Munley is an award-winning plaintiffs’ lawyer who has dedicated his career to fighting for accident victims and their families. As a board-certified civil trial advocate, Chris was named Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers for Workers’ Compensation by Best Lawyers, and has been listed on Pennsylvania Super Lawyers since 2013.
Step 5: Speak to the Police
Calling the police is essential after any auto accident, even a minor one. Depending on whether anyone has sustained serious injuries or major property damage, reporting the crash and waiting at the scene until a police officer arrives is required by law. Remember the following when the police investigate:
- Get the badge number of the police officer investigating the crash. Providing their badge number might help when requesting a copy of the police report later.
- Watch what you say when reporting accidents. Do not admit fault or give an opinion on what may have caused the car accident.
- Do not leave the scene until the police tell you it’s safe to leave. They may have more questions for you after speaking with the other drivers.
Step 6: Seek Medical Treatment
Seeking medical treatment is essential after any auto accident. It’s possible to sustain injuries in a car crash without realizing it. Many times, your injuries may not appear until days after the accident, especially severe injuries such as internal bleeding or a brain injury. So it’s always in your best interest to get checked out.
Not only should you go to the doctor for health reasons, but it is also important for your future lawsuit. The insurance company may try to suggest your injuries resulted from a separate incident if you wait to see a doctor. Seeking medical treatment right away could help you successfully pursue compensation for medical expenses when you file a claim.
Step 7: Notify Your Insurance Company
As soon as you are able, contact your insurance company to report the crash. When doing so, check your policy to learn how to report a collision with your insurance provider. When reviewing your insurance policy, confirm you understand the following:
- The extent of your insurance coverage
- How to file an insurance claim
- Whether you should file a claim with your personal injury protection insurance, the other driver’s insurance company, or both
Don’t wait to contact the insurance company. Although every insurance provider has policies about when to report an accident, you usually must report an accident within 24 hours.
Understand that the insurance agent may assign a claims adjuster to your case. Instead of speaking directly with an insurance adjuster, strongly consider hiring an attorney to represent you.
Step 8: Keep Track of Your Expenses
Knowing what losses you experienced because of the car accident is key to your insurance claim. Along with keeping copies of medical bills, you want to keep a document of the following:
- Lost time at work, including any PTO or vacation time you took because of the accident
- Repair costs and towing services
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Transportation costs, such as rental cars, taxi, and Uber receipts
- Mental health care
Step 9: Obtain a Copy of the Police Report
An accident report can serve as evidence to strengthen your insurance claim. To request a copy of the accident report, you may:
- Contact the department whose police officers investigate the wreck.
- Provide the officer’s badge number of the person who drafted the report, if necessary.
- Understand that there may be a fee for requesting a copy of the report.
Step 10: Contact a Car Accident Attorney
An attorney who understands the insurance claim process could help you pursue compensation. Reasons to consider reviewing your case with a lawyer include:
- The initial case review is usually free. You can discuss your case with a lawyer to learn about legal options. There is no obligation to hire an attorney after a case review.
- A lawyer may not charge legal fees up front. Their fee may be a percentage of any compensation you receive.
Provide as much information as possible when reviewing your case with a lawyer. It would be best to discuss when the accident occurred, how the crash occurred, what types of injuries and losses you’ve already sustained, whether you’ve contacted the auto insurance company, how your driving history might affect a case, and what evidence you’ve gathered. Provide a lawyer with documentation of any correspondence you’ve had with an insurance company.
Our Car Accident Lawyers Are Here to Help
A lawyer who understands how insurance companies handle claims like yours may help you negotiate for a fair settlement. Remember, insurance companies are businesses. Because they don’t want to lose money, it helps to have representation when filing a claim. A lawyer can fight for what you may deserve while you focus on recovering from injuries.
At Munley Law, we’re prepared to assist you through every step of the claims process. We can gather evidence showing the other driver caused the wreck, help you document losses, and calculate approximately how much compensation you may deserve. Contact us today to learn how we can help with your car accident case.
Contact our car accident lawyers today to schedule a free consultation. There is no fee unless we win your case.
