MVA Lawyer Milwaukee, WI
Being involved in an accident provokes a primal fight or flight response. This means that it’s natural to panic in the wake of an accident. Because this response is biologically-triggered, you shouldn’t judge yourself for feeling this way. But as soon as you possibly can, it’s important to calmly take stock of the situation so that you can respond urgently and effectively to your circumstances. It’s important to know that while your first call should be to 911 if anyone involved in the accident is injured, your second call shouldn’t be to your spouse or parents. It should be to a MIlwaukee, WI car accident lawyer. Yes, you’ll also need to call the police so you can file an accident report, but connecting with an experienced Milwaukee, Wisconsin MVA lawyer from Hickey & Turim, SC before you call the police will allow you access to experienced legal guidance that will help to preserve your legal options as you navigate the aftermath of your accident.
What other specific steps should you take in the wake of an accident? Here are the basics:
- Check for Injuries
If you’re conscious, the very first thing you should do is check for injuries on yourself. If you determine there’s nothing life-threatening, you can start to check your passengers for injuries. Move on to the other car to make sure everyone is ok there, and finally check to see if there were any pedestrians, cyclists or bystanders involved that may need medical care. If first aid is required for anyone, call for medical assistance immediately.
- Call the Authorities
You’ll want the authorities on the scene of your accident for multiple reasons. First, the responding police officer will make a report that could help to determine fault if there’s a disagreement with the insurance companies or the other driver. Also, if the cars start on fire or there’s a gas line or power line that was involved in the accident, the fire department can handle that.
- Contact Your Insurance Provider
Whether the accident was your fault or not, your insurance provider will need notice of the accident. Note that it’s a good idea to seek legal guidance from a Milwaukee, WI MVA lawyer before making this call and to avoid discussing fault when reporting your accident.
- Collect Critical Information
If you are able, collect all the critical information that could help you with an insurance claim and/or a civil lawsuit. This includes photographs of the entire scene. Be sure the photos show what the weather was like, where each car came from, what the traffic signals are like in the area and what injuries you sustained. Collect statements from witnesses. Get their names, phone numbers and email addresses so they can be contacted at a later date if you need them for your case. Note that your Milwaukee, WI MVA lawyer can accomplish all of these tasks on your behalf if you’re injured, dazed or simply want the responsibility of managing this task off your shoulders.
