Posted by Emily Fretwell |
Accidents can happen to anyone and at any time. You may be driving home from the market or picking up your kids from school when someone suddenly rear-ends you. Most people don’t think that accidents can happen to them. However, with all the vehicle owners in the United States, it is safe to say that we are all at risk of suffering traffic crashes.
According to recorded statistics, around 90 fatalities are recorded on the road each day. Most of them are as a result of drunk driving, overspeeding, not wearing seat belts or some other form of negligence. If you are in an accident that is in no part due to your carelessness, you must take the necessary steps to avoid making any critical mistakes.
Below, we look at what to do after an accident that is not your fault.
Important First Steps
First, you should remember that the crash is not your fault. Accidents happen to even the most careful of drivers. Remain calm and call 911, even if you have no apparent injuries. If you can move, check on your passengers and the people in the other vehicle involved in the accident.
Encourage everyone to remain calm and don’t argue with the other driver over who was at fault. Don’t try to move anyone as you may make their injuries worse.
Next, call the police and give them the details surrounding the crash. Give them your location, number of vehicles involved, and number of victims. Never assume that someone has already alerted the authorities, even if there are witnesses around.
The police report you get will be used as leverage in your personal injury lawsuit.
Don’t Fight Alone
From this point forward, everything you say will be crucial to your injury claim. You will require the assistance of Jefferson City and Missouri Personal Injury Attorneys to guide you through the rest of the process. Call our office and talk to a personal injury lawyer about the incident.
We advise our clients to collect all the evidence surrounding the incident. Regardless of whether the other driver is at fault, their insurance company could find a way to turn the blame on you if you are not careful. Your future litigation will depend on you collecting:
- Photos of the accident scene that capture intersections, traffic lights and signs, position of the vehicles, apparent damages to the cars or property around the accident, and license plate numbers
- The other driver’s contact information and insurance details
- Witness contact information and statements
We routinely drive to the scene and gather information and evidence that will help you pursue your claim for damages.
Don’t Skip Medical
Next on our list of what to do after an accident that is not your fault is getting medical attention. Get a checkup and diagnosis for your injuries and begin treatment. Your health matters. Go to every doctor appointment and fill any prescriptions you are given. Save all your medical records because they are a vital part of your case. Of course, we will help you collect all medical records and bills to pursue your claim.
Later, when you are stable, you can call your insurance company and notify them of the accident. This will help them prepare for the possibility of the at-fault driver’s insurer denying responsibility.
Don’t try to negotiate with the other driver’s insurance representatives. Anything you say may be misinterpreted to shift fault to you or to unfairly reduce your recovery. Our personal injury attorneys will handle all communications with the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier, taking that stressful burden off of your plate.
Contact Experienced Jefferson City, Missouri, Personal Injury Attorneys
Finally, with the help of a car accident lawyer, pursue your claim, and, if necessary, file a personal injury lawsuit for compensation for your injuries and losses. Let our expert team get you the recovery and settlement you deserve.