Six Things to Do After an Accident
Six Things to Do Right After an Accident
Nobody ever expects to be involved in a car accident, but sometimes it is inevitable, and it happens to you. Unfortunately, most of us are not familiar with the process, making it seem overwhelming. With the physical and mental trauma that one can experience after an accident, it is easy to make mistakes from the very start.
We asked our network of lawyers what advice they would give someone on what to do immediately after an accident. Although their advice is meant to guide you directly after an accident, the best way to maximize your compensation is by going with an experienced attorney. To set up a free consultation, click to call now.
The following are the six things our network of lawyers recommend you do after an accident:
It does not matter if the crash resulted in both vehicles being totaled or if it was a simple fender bender with minor dents; the police should always be involved. The reason is that the responding officer will write a report that can significantly help out your claims. Do not let the other party convince you to only go through the insurance; always call the police at the accident scene. If the officer has enough information, they can assign liability by stating who was at fault.
The officer will include both sides of the story and what the officer visually noted in the report. One of the sections the officer fills out has to do with what they believe the total damages to each vehicle might be, which can help you avoid body shop scams where people take their cars to a shop that fraudulently causes more damage than the accident to increase their claims.
1. Do Not Move
The moment after an accident happens, your first instinct might be to move the car out of the road and out of the way of the traffic. However, it is best to keep both vehicles exactly where they were when they crashed; the reason is that it makes it more straightforward for the attending officer or public safety aide (also known as PSA) to determine what happened.
Unfortunately, there are circumstances where it is unsafe to stay at the point of impact because the vehicles may not be visible due to low lighting, or the speed limit is too fast for traffic to avoid the accident. To avoid this situation, investing in a dashcam can significantly help; some can be found for as cheap as twenty dollars. However, before you move your vehicle, try to document what happened with as many pictures of the scene if possible.
2. Call the Police
It does not matter if the crash resulted in both vehicles being totaled or if it was a simple fender bender with minor dents; the police should always be involved. The reason is that the responding officer will write a report that can significantly help out your claims. Do not let the other party convince you to only go through the insurance; always call the police at the accident scene. If the officer has enough information, they can assign liability by stating who was at fault.
The officer will include both sides of the story and what the officer visually noted in the report. One of the sections the officer fills out has to do with what they believe the total damages to each vehicle might be, which can help you avoid body shop scams where people take their cars to a shop that fraudulently causes more damage than the accident to increase their claims.
3. Take Pictures
When you have pictures of the accident, you have a way to tell your story visually, and it can also help you recall what happened when you will inevitably be asked to recite what happened. By documenting the accident scene, you will be ready for questions from the police and the insurance companies because the pictures will reinforce your statement.
Pictures are evidence that can help you support your claim, but they can also help you from getting defrauded. It would help if you took pictures of your vehicle and the other party’s vehicle. These pictures will help you avoid body shop scams because you will have the ability to prove that damages reported by them do not line up with those from the accident. If you want to learn more about Bodyshop scams and how to determine if you’re being defrauded, you can read more about these scams here.
4. Call Your Insurance Company
After you call the police, you should contact your insurance company to report the accident. By giving your side of the story first, you can avoid the possibility of the other driver giving your insurance company a conflicting report. There have been cases where at-fault drivers called the victim’s insurance company and filed a claim first, resulting in the victim receiving fewer benefits than what they deserved; that is why always call your insurance company and report the accident as soon as possible.
The most helpful thing about contacting your insurance company is that they are in the best position to advise you on what to do. They will never send you a suspicious tow-truck driver or ship your vehicle to be evaluated at a deceitful body shop. If your car is not drivable, they will send one of their own trusted tow trucks to pick up your vehicle. However, if you can drive your vehicle, they will probably send you home and then schedule for you to meet with one of their professionals to evaluate the damages to your car.
5. Seek Medical Attention
By law, you must get medical attention in the first 14 days to qualify for all your benefits, meaning that if you do not get seen within that time, you may not receive the total compensation you deserve. Even if you feel okay, go to your primary physician, and explain what happens if something in the future arises related to the accident. Some injuries take time to develop into malignant conditions fully; that is why you should document your injuries with a medical professional, even if they seem minor.
If you take medication for chronic pain, you might not even realize your injuries. Minor discomfort can get greater and greater, and by the time it’s too much to notice, the 14 days could have been up, and you lose out on any compensation for your medical damages. No matter how you feel, always get the right kind of medical attention after an accident.
6. Never Admit Liability
You are held responsible for the accident when you accept liability, meaning you keep all the blame. By admitting liability, you have no way to claim because admitting weakness invalidates your insurance policy. Although you may be found liable, accepting liability is much worse as there is no way to fight your statement and take it back. Admitting to weakness is impossible to go back on, as you can perjure yourself, which has consequences of its own, so it’s best never to accept liability.
Even if the accident is minor, you should not admit liability because other injuries and damages may arise long after the accident that you will be financially responsible for. Since you invalidated your policy, you are entirely on the hook for all the damages, including yours and the other drivers, including medical and property damage.
Never forget that you do not know precisely what the other driver was doing, so you cannot be sure if they could have been at fault. It could seem like you were at fault, but in reality, the driver maneuvered in a manner that also contributed to the causation of the accident. Remember why the police and insurance companies are involved; it is their responsibility to investigate and determine liability; even if you feel it was your fault, let them find out for themselves.
Missing A Step
The process could seem complicated, especially if you missed anything listed above, making the claim process even more complex and involved. Although none of these steps are necessary, they greatly help you back up your claim and make the whole process easier. However, we understand that this can still seem like too much; luckily, we are available 24/7 to answer any questions you may have, click here to call us now.