Posted in Wisconsin Workers Compensation Related News
Following a car accident you may be shaken, scared, and confused. Even in the aftermath it is important to do your best to remain calm so that you can begin to take the necessary steps in ensuring you receive compensation (or in some cases are able to defend yourself). The following are some tips and advice on what you can do after a collision, brought to you by the car accident lawyers.
Call 911 – Regardless of whether or not anyone is obviously injured you should call the police or 911. The police should visit the scene to make a police report which will be needed by the insurance company. If anyone is hurt they can be treated or taken to the hospital.
Gather Contact Details – In order to file a claim, your insurance company will require the names, addresses, and contact details of any drivers, passengers, and witnesses. You should also collect the information of the vehicles involved, such as the make, model, and license plate number. It may also be a good idea to find out what the insurance status is of any vehicle involved in the accident. If a driver was not the registered owner of the car, find out who is. If at anytime you are feeling nervous about collecting this type of information, you might ask the police to help you. You should also get the names and badge numbers of the police officers who met you at the scene.
Make Notes – Immediately after a car accident there may be a lot going on, and it might be difficult to remember everything in the hours or days following. If possible, take notes about the weather, lighting, damage to the vehicles, whether there was any obvious damage before the accident (i.e. broken tail light). Were any of the vehicles owned by a company? Was anyone under the influence of drugs or alcohol? Did anyone take blame for what happened?
Take Photographs – If you have a camera take as many pictures as possible of the vehicle, scene, surroundings, people involved, injuries, license plates, damage, skid marks, street signs, lighting, and anything else that could be used as evidence. Photos tend to be the most valuable in a claim so don’t be afraid in taking too many. If you do not have a camera or your phone has been broken in the accident, ask someone to take photos for you.
Deal with Your Insurance Company – Most likely your own insurance policy will require you to contact the company as soon as possible after an accident. You should do so, but only give facts rather than opinions or ideas, and do not admit fault. If for any reason you are concerned about this step, consult a car accident lawyer, like an auto accident lawyer Canoga Park, CA relies on, for advice, but do not delay. If any other insurance company contacts you for a statement, you should politely decline until you have sought legal advice.
Get Medical Treatment – If you were seriously injured, you likely have been taken to the hospital, with or without performing any of the above steps. If you were not seriously injured, you should still be examined by a doctor. It is possible to sustain invisible or a-symptomatic injuries that do not exhibit any immediate symptoms. Some of these can be serious or life threatening. Failure to seek medical care could hinder your ability to recover maximum compensation.
Call a Car Accident Lawyer – No matter what happened, or how, it may be a good idea to review your case with a skilled car accident lawyer trusted by the community.
To get a complimentary free case review, call a skilled lawyer today.
Thanks to our friends and contributors from Barry P. Goldberg, A Professional Law Corporation for their insight into car accidend cases.
