What To Do In Case Of An Auto Accident
You’re driving along when suddenly a car hits you. It’s hard to
think clearly at this time, but the information you obtain
right after an auto accident — and what you say — can have a
big impact on the amount of compensation you recover.
Here are some important steps to follow if you are in a car accident. They
will reduce the hassles and help you get the maximum
recovery for your injuries and losses.
• Call 911 to summon medical help for anyone injured. It's
generally advisable not to move anyone who is injured.
• Exchange information. After you make sure injuries are attended
to, talk to the other driver to exchange information. Don’t discuss
how the accident happened or blame anyone. You should exchange the
following information with the other driver: name, address, phone
number, driver’s license number, insurance company and policy
number.
If the driver of the other car is not the owner, get the registered
owner’s name, address, phone number and the name of his or her
insurance company and policy number.
• Other car. Write down the other car’s make, model, year, license
number and vehicle identification number.
• Witnesses. Get the name, address and home and work phone numbers
of all witnesses (including passengers in both cars). If any
witnesses were driving, write down their car’s make, model and
license number. Don’t rely on the other party or the police to get
witness information — obtain this information yourself.
• Police officer. Get the name, badge number and police department of the officer who responds to the accident
scene.
• Make notes. As soon as you can, whether at the accident scene or right
after, make notes of what happened. Write down the road and weather
conditions as well as where and when the accident happened. Make a
note of anything you saw, heard or sensed before, during and after
the accident. Also make a diagram of the accident. Be sure your diagram includes traffic signals, street signs and
crosswalks.
• Don’t admit fault. Whether at the scene or afterward, don’t admit
fault, even if you think you caused the accident. Emotions can affect you at an accident scene, and the sense of being
responsible may later turn out to be wrong. Also, things you
did not know or see may indicate the other driver caused the
accident or was partly at fault. Never admit fault or
responsibility, at least not before consulting your lawyer.
Remember that anything you say can be used against you later.
• Pictures. Take photos of the accident scene and cars involved. The
photos can show damage better than a repair bill from an auto body
shop.
Also have photos taken of your injuries. These can help show how
much
pain you suffered.
• See a doctor. You should see a doctor even if you think you
have no serious injuries. Many injuries take time to develop, and a doctor can help prevent minor injuries from
getting worse.
• Notify your insurance company. Even though you are required to
notify your insurance company, it is strongly recommended that you
consult your lawyer before giving a statement to your insurance company
representative or filling out their accident
documents.
• Never sign a "release" or accept a settlement offer before first consulting your lawyer.
Once you accept a settlement, you usually cannot recover any more
money, even if you later find out your injuries or losses are worse
than you thought when you accepted the settlement.
• Legal help. Call us to discuss confidentially what
happened. We will advise you about notifying other parties,
your legal rights and duties, and how much money you may be entitled to receive. Call
immediately after the accident, as there are time limits for making claims. Also, the
longer you wait, the harder it can be to find evidence and
witnesses.
Following these steps will help get assistance to injured people,
create a good record of what happened, and help you receive the
maximum compensation for your injuries and losses.
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