In the United States, there are approximately six million automobile accidents a year. A third of these collisions involve some sort of personal injury to a driver, passenger or pedestrian.
If this happens to you, here are several important things you should do, as well as actions you should avoid:
- Never leave the scene of the accident. It’s vital that you stop and never drive away from an accident, even if it seems minor.
- Call the police. Get an accident report from the police. Make sure there has been proper documentation on exactly what occurred.
- Tell the truth. When the police arrive, make certain that you tell the exact truth. As your parents always said, “honesty is the best policy.” Tell exactly what happened and how.
- Take pictures. Take pictures of the damage to your car, the other car and the scene of the accident.
- Contact your insurance company. Notify your auto insurance company of the accident as soon as possible. Find out if you have coverage for any medical injuries.
- Get medical attention. If you or a loved one are hurt in a car accident, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Sometimes you may not feel the pain from the accident until a few days later, so it’s always best to see a doctor to be on the safe side.
Being in a car accident is stressful. Fortunately, if you stick to these tips, you will through this process much easier. You may need to hire an experienced car accident injury lawyer to help you secure any compensation you deserve from the negligent driver or their insurance company. .