There are over six million car crashes annually in the United States, according to a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. If you have been involved in either a minor or major collision, you can be too shaken up to think logically and clearly. Therefore, it’s important to know what you need to do at the scene to protect yourself and your legal rights as well.
Call the police
If you are physically able to, you should call 911 and report the crash, giving relevant details such as the injuries you have sustained and the location of the crash. The police will document the scene and fill out an accident report.
Get medical assistance
In some collisions, the injuries sustained may not be noticeable immediately and may start showing symptoms days after the collision. Therefore, you should get a thorough medical check-up to establish whether there are any internal injuries you sustained.
Not only will seeking medical assistance protect your health, but it will also act as evidence that shows you sustained injuries from the crash and not from previous incidents. The medical records will also come in handy when calculating the crash-related expenses you incurred and your settlement amount.
Document the scene
You can protect yourself by getting a copy of the crash report, which will act as evidence when filing the car insurance claim against the liable party. Furthermore, you should take pictures of your vehicle from different angles to show the extent of the damage caused by the collision. Furthermore, you should take pictures of the other vehicle’s license plate to support your claim.
Exchange information
You should collect important information with the other driver after a crash such as the full name and contact details of the driver, their insurance company, and the policy number. You should also gather information such as the model, type, and color of their vehicle and the location of the collision.
Furthermore, you should record the names and addresses of the parties involved such as other passengers and witnesses.
Don’t admit fault at the scene
Sometimes, you may be fully responsible for the crash. However, there may be some underlying causes that contributed to the crash such as vehicle malfunctions, bad road conditions, or distracted driving by the other victim. In that situation, you may hinder your chances of getting fair compensation if you admit fault without waiting for investigations to be conducted to determine what caused the collision.
When filing your claim, your attorney will determine who is at fault after reviewing the vehicle damages and evidence that you will present after the collision. Other evidence includes supporting records such as police reports or photographs from the crash scene.
Conclusion
Finally, it is essential for you to consult an attorney after being involved in such a serious accident. An experienced car accident lawyer at Kogan & DiSalvo in Boca Raton, FL will help you safeguard important evidence from being destroyed, give you legal advice, and assist you in getting full compensation that can cover all your crash-related expenses.
