Getting hurt in a car accident is every driver’s worst nightmare. Not only can it cause you great physical pain and suffering, but the financial and legal process afterward can be very painstaking. If you are involved in a car accident, here are seven essential steps you must take afterward to get the right compensation and recover properly.
Stay Put at The Scene
In case you are involved in a car accident, you are legally required to remain at the scene immediately afterward. Even though car accidents are a very costly misfortune and your first thought may be to leave the scene, that is a terrible decision that can bring even more adverse consequences. In many jurisdictions, anyone who leaves the scene of their car accident may be charged criminally with a hit-and-run. Remaining at the scene allows you to complete the next six necessary steps.
Make Sure Everything Around You is Safe
If your vehicle is stopped in the active roadway, you should attempt to move it before exiting your car. After you leave your car, you must look around you to assess the situation. If there is another vehicle involved in the accident, you must make contact with them to make sure they are okay. If anyone involved is seriously injured, you must call 911 immediately and wait for emergency services. If anyone in the accident is injured, someone else involved who is still able-bodied is legally required to assist the injured to safety. If they do not meet that responsibility, legal issues such as felony or misdemeanor charges may result.
Talk with Other Drivers
Though your adrenaline may be rushing and emotions can run high, the next step is to connect with the other driver involved to begin to trade information. This is a phase where you need to be careful about what you say, as any words documented can be used against you in legal proceedings or by insurance. Additionally, do not say you are not injured at the moment, as injuries can be noticed later, and you do not want to eliminate the possibility of compensation. Also, make sure not to be accusatory at all, even if you know the accident was purely the fault of the other driver.
Exchange Documentation
After touching base with the other driver involved, you need to give each other your insurance information. Afterward, you should start collecting photographic evidence of the scene. Take photos surveying the damage. These will be used in court to prove precisely who is at fault and could help you get more compensation. Courts will not admit personal memories as much as photographic evidence because, during a traumatic experience such as a car accident, the brain has a harder time noting accurate memories than normal.
Get Medical Attention if Necessary
After surveying the accident scene with a camera, you can seek medical attention after emergency services arrive. Do not be hesitant to get help for any kind of ailment because letting an injury worsen will make your recovery more difficult and expensive. If you have any pain in your body that does not require emergency treatment, schedule an appointment with your primary care physician. Delaying treatment could also be used as contradictory evidence in court because your opponent could claim that you didn’t have an injury severe enough to warrant compensation.
Let Your Insurance Know
After you are able to leave the scene of the accident and get medical treatment, you have to file a claim with your insurance provider about the accident. They will dispatch a claims adjuster to survey the damage and see who bears responsibility. Moreover, if the police were not called to the scene, you have to notify your local government of the incident by filing an accident report.
Lawyer Up
After you file your accident report with the police department, you should look to hire a lawyer to help you get compensation if the accident was not your fault. The best attorneys can collaborate with insurance companies to provide you with the best compensation for your damages. When looking for a New York personal injury lawyer, make sure you find one with the most experienced track record of helping their clients get the best accident compensation. A personal injury lawyer in New York will be familiar with the laws of the city and get you the right compensation for your injuries and troubles.
Car accidents can be very expensive and frustrating. With the right legal representation, you will get all the compensation you need to hold the responsible party accountable.
