A car accident can be a terrifying moment for all parties involved. In that moment of pure shock after impact, a thousand different thoughts are buzzing through your head, giving you palpitations and stress. It’s important to take a deep breath, and consider the steps that you need to take to make sure that you and those in your vehicle are accounted for, and to make sure that any accident claim is properly addressed.
Seek Medical Attention
After the impact of the crash, it’s important to make sure that you and everyone in your vehicle are safe. Be sure to accept the care of paramedics if you’ve suffered a severe injury to get you to a nearby hospital. Mike Morse, a leading car accident lawyer Detroit, encourages getting checked right at the scene for both safety and establishing the cause of your injuries in your medical records. It’s almost important to make sure you haven’t suffered a traumatic brain injury that may show late symptoms or to check if you’ve suffered common injuries like bruising or whiplash.
Accident victims who seek medical care as quickly as possible stand a better chance of securing a fair settlement and achieving a good recovery. If you refuse to be evaluated at the scene of the car accident, make sure that you get yourself medical care as quickly as possible. This can either be in an emergency room setting, an urgent care clinic, or even from your personal primary care physician.
Collect Documentation
After the car accident, police officers who respond to the scene should file an accident report. Upon calling 911, this process should start. Auto accident lawyers require this police report in order to pursue any legal action related to the collision. If possible, you should take photos from the scene of any motor vehicle accident. This will show any injuries or property damage that occurred at the accident scene. These pictures and videos will serve as crucial evidence if you ever need to go to court in a personal injury lawsuit.
Getting into an accident is never good but if you must obtain accident reports CA there are great resources for you. This will help when dealing with insurance and collision shops to get you back on the road.
If there are any eyewitnesses at the scene of the accident, be sure to take down their contact details and potentially collect witness statements. Most people are willing to offer up their testimony, as it’s the right thing to do. This will also help to confirm the negligent party in the car accident as listed out in a police report. Expert car accident attorneys have noted that having personal testimonies from pedestrians, accident victims, and others on the scene can help to build a case for maximum compensation in an accident lawsuit.
Contact your insurance provider.
After a car crash, you should contact your insurance company to report the accident, asking to apply for no-fault auto insurance. Michigan is one of 12 no-fault states across the U.S., meaning that an insurance provider will be responsible for covering property damage, medical expenses, and non-economic damages. The trick is determining the insurance company that will be responsible for a claim and making sure that you are filing the personal injury claim correctly.
If issues arise with insurance or other parties involved in that motor vehicle accident, it’s time to call in an experienced attorney to help you get as much compensation as needed to cover medical treatment or damage to your car. With a free consultation, a car accident attorney will assess the value of your claim to find where you can potentially get a better settlement offer or additional compensation for negligence. Car accident attorneys also often operate on a contingency basis, meaning they only get paid if you get compensation through legal action.