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What Steps Should I Take After a Car Accident? Here is The Swanson Law Firm's Top 10 Things To Do

Writer's picture: Roland SwansonRoland Swanson

Although car accidents are extremely common in the St. Louis metropolitan area, it is not uncommon for individuals involved in an accident to not know what to do following a collision. You may find your nerves and anxiety at an all-time high, as the moments immediately following a car accident have proven themselves to be overwhelming. However, knowing how to properly respond can be a tremendous help in the days, weeks, and months that follow. As such, it is extremely important you know what options you have and what you should do to protect yourself and your best interests.

 

If involved in a car accident, you should try your best to do the following:

 

1.     Check Yourself for Injuries

 

Some physical injuries sustained as a result of a car accident can be obvious and apparent while others are not visible to the naked eye. Additionally, because an individual’s adrenaline will likely be in full force and effect immediately following such a traumatic incident, physical pain may not be immediately perceived or recognized. Being able to identify general pain locations may prove beneficial in helping first responders provide medical attention. Regardless, you should avoid engaging in activity that will over exert yourself, as doing so can worsen the injuries sustained.

 

2.     Call 9-1-1

 

After doing a quick check for injuries, you should immediately call 9-1-1, even if you think the car accident was “minor.” Contacting 9-1-1 will allow emergency medical responders to be dispatched to the scene of the accident, in addition to police officers to investigate the collision. A responding officer should prepare an official crash report that identifies, among other things: the drivers involved; any passengers within the vehicles; other witnesses to the accident; the insurance companies for all drivers involved; and a detailed series of events that led to the accident. The crash report prepared by law enforcement is oftentimes important in helping you ultimately receive compensation for physical injuries sustained as a result of a car accident.

 

Officers can also assist in clearing the scene of the accident by moving the vehicles out of harm’s way, clearing debris from the scene, and directing traffic in order to avoid additional collisions and injuries.

 

3.     Exchange Information

 

If able to exit your vehicle and remain out of the way of traffic or other potential danger, it can be beneficial for you to obtain contact and insurance information for the other driver(s) involved in the car accident. The information you should seek from the involved parties includes: the names of all drivers and passengers; their addresses and telephone numbers; make and model of the vehicles involved and each license plate; the name of each vehicle owner (if different from driver of vehicle); and the insurance company for each driver.

 

4.     Take Photographs

 

Although police officers investigate the scene of the collision and obtain statements from the parties involved, officers rarely take photographs of the accident scene. If safe, and physically able to do so, an individual involved in a car accident should photograph the scene in order to capture any damage to the vehicles involved, the positioning of the vehicle post-accident, road conditions, and nearby traffic devices. These photos can help establish and decide who is at fault for the accident, which can be extremely beneficial in obtaining compensation for your physical injuries.

 

5.     Obtain Witness Information

 

If there are any witnesses nearby who saw the accident, it can be beneficial to obtain their name, address, and telephone number. This information will enable an attorney or anyone representing themselves to contact witnesses after they have left the scene. An unbiased, neutral witness to the accident can be helpful in establishing liability and recovering compensation for your physical injuries.

 

6.     Seek Immediate Medical Treatment

 

Many common car accident injuries do not appear, or are not felt, at the time of the collision. Oftentimes, physical injuries are not noticed until days after the accident. Seeking medical treatment immediately following an accident can be essential in avoiding further aggravation of an untreated or unnoticed  injury. As such, unless you are absolutely certain you did not sustain any physical injury whatsoever, you should seek some form of medical treatment and care. Whether the treatment sought is through a primary care physician, urgent care facility, or a hospital, having a doctor perform an examination following an accident is the best option in the overwhelming majority of cases.

 

Sometimes, individuals may be hesitant or even refuse to seek medical treatment and care due to not having health insurance or a fear of incurring insurmountable medical bills and expenses. You should never refuse medical treatment if you are hurt, even if the reason for doing so stems from a concern of how you will pay for the medical treatment and care. There are numerous medical providers in the St. Louis metropolitan area who will agree to provide medical treatment on a lien basis. Medical treatment provided on a lien basis essentially means the injured individual will be able to receive treatment without paying for it at the time the treatment is received. Instead, a lien based medical provider will recover the amounts owed for the medical treatment provided from the compensation received through settlement or verdict at trial.

 

7.     Avoid Speaking with Insurance Companies

 

Insurance companies have a tendency of denying liability and also offering low compensation awards in order to quickly dispose of personal injury matters, to the detriment of the injured individual. Accepting a fast offer from an insurance company might result in an individual receiving much less than they deserve. Additionally, insurance companies often solicit a recorded statement from the injured individual, where questions are asked regarding the details of the accident and the physical injuries sustained as a result. Generally, it is best to have a knowledgeable and experienced personal injury attorney appear with the injured individual on the recorded call as opposed to the individual having the conversation on their own.

 

8.     Contact an Attorney

 

One of the most important things an individual can do to protect themselves and their best interests following a car accident is contact an experienced and knowledgeable personal injury attorney. A personal injury attorney can help ensure you receive appropriate medical treatment and ultimately receive and fair and just outcome.

 

9.     Keep Detailed Notes and Records

 

As time goes on, it may be difficult to remember everything you felt or experienced as a result of a car accident. Although medical records can often paint a narrative as it relates to the physical  injuries sustained and the pain experienced as a result, the records may not capture every single detail you believe to be important. As such, you should consider keeping a detailed record or journal where you capture the day-to-day pain experienced, emotional harm and/or trauma, time missed from work, lifestyle impact, etc.

 

10.  Avoid Social Media

 

As a general rule of thumb, you should avoid discussing the facts surrounding a car accident and any injuries sustained as a result with anyone, unless it is your attorney. This communication includes statements, photographs, videos, etc. that you may post on social media. A photograph as simple as an injured individual engaging in some sort of physical activity can potentially be misconstrued or used against them to negate the severity of the injuries sustained. Consequently, it is best to avoid posting on social media until your personal injury claim has fully resolved.



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