In the aftermath of a car accident, you may feel anxious and confused. However, it is important that you remain calm and make sure to review the following tips in order to ensure you have the best possible chance of securing compensation in your case. Proving fault is one of the most difficult steps, but having the evidence to back up your claims can be exactly what you need to resolve your case favorably. As a note, before an accident even happens, make sure you have a copy of your insurance information and a pen and paper somewhere in your car. If you don't have pen or paper, you can use your phone to take notes.
Get to Safety, Check for Injuries
After the accident, get your car to safety as quickly as possible by moving out of the way of traffic. If your vehicle is too totaled or your injuries are too severe to move, stay where you are and try your best to call 911 or yell for help from surrounding vehicles. By law, all individuals involved in the accident must check on the other parties to ensure that no one is seriously injured. If you find others injured, be sure to call 911 right away. Remember, don't apologize to the other drivers or attempt to accept blame, as this could hurt your claim down the line.
Gather all Relevant Information
In order to file a claim with your insurance company, you will need to first obtain all the information you can regarding the other driver or drivers involved.
Write down the following information:
- Names
- Addresses
- Phone numbers
- Email addresses
- Make, model, and year of cars
- Insurance policy carriers and numbers
- License plate numbers
If there were any witnesses, make sure to ask them for their contact information if they are willing to testify for your claim. You can also ask for a copy of the police report once it becomes available if police were called to the scene.
Seek Medical Treatment
Following your accident, you should always see a doctor to have a check-up on your injuries, even if you don't feel hurt. You may not realize the extent of your injuries due to shock. Once this wears off though, symptoms could start to surface days or even weeks later. That is why it is best to see a doctor and return for additional care as soon as any issues arise. Make sure to keep any bills or copies of medical documentation so that you can use this as proof for your claim and necessary compensation.
Retain Counsel & Representation
Once you've done these steps, call a qualified San Angelo personal injury attorney who can advise you on how to craft a strong claim. The car accident attorneys at Webb, Stokes & Sparks have more than a century of combined experience and have helped countless car accident victims pursue compensation in the past.