There is no perfect set of steps you should take after a car wreck, but certain things can benefit you, especially if you intend to seek monetary recovery for your injuries.
If you’re stressed, overwhelmed, or unsure of what to do after a car accident, a car accident attorney can determine the next best steps after your collision.
What You Do After a Car Accident Matters
You may not know what to do after a car accident. There is no manual providing post-collision instructions, despite the number of car accidents every single day. In fact, approximately 13 collisions occur every 60 seconds in the United States. Many of these accidents also result in injury—in a recent year alone, there were 4.8 million medically-consulted injuries post-collision.
While it might not seem particularly important what you do right after a car accident and in the days following, in reality, it can have a significant impact on your car accident claim and future potential to recover financially.
You’ll likely want to pursue compensation when you suffer injuries and property damage in a car accident. What you do right after a car accident can either help or hurt you. Therefore, the following are helpful steps and details to remember if you wish to attain the most favorable outcome.
After Leaving the Scene of the Accident
After you call 911 and deal with essential tasks at the accident scene, keep these steps in mind.
Seek Medical Care
Seeking medical care is one of the most important steps you must take after a car accident. Many car accident victims skip this step altogether, but failing to get medical aid in some way or another can hurt your future claim and your health and well-being.
This step can be tricky, as you may feel as though you were lucky enough to walk away from your collision, suffering no harm. This is extremely common for several reasons, more specifically because of the way the body naturally reacts to trauma and stressful moments.
Your body releases adrenaline when you go through a significant event like a car accident. You may have heard of this bodily occurrence as the “fight or flight response.” When adrenaline, also called epinephrine, is released, it affects your body in several ways.
One of the most significant things adrenaline does is block pain. Therefore, after a car wreck, even if you did, in fact, sustain injuries, you might leave the scene of the accident feeling no sensation of pain whatsoever.
This is why you should always seek medical attention right away, even if you don’t feel anything. A thorough examination from a physician can reveal injuries you may not even realize you sustained. This not only allows you to begin receiving medical treatment so you can recover but also starts to build your medical records, which are imperative to your car accident claim.
In the alternative, even if you received some medical care at the scene of the accident from emergency medical technicians, be sure to follow up with a doctor.
Always get medical aid after a collision, whether it’s an emergency room or primary care physician visit.
Report Your Accident to Your Insurance Company
Car insurance companies expect to be made aware if something occurs to their insured vehicle, like an accident. There is no exact timeframe to call your insurance company, but rather as soon as you’re able after your collision.
When you contact your insurer, they’ll ask questions regarding your accident. Once they have sufficient information and formally open your claim, they’ll assign an insurance adjuster to your case.
Insurance adjusters play a critical role in the accident claim process. They take care of many vital tasks, including investigating your accident and calculating your losses to determine the value of your claim. They are your point of contact throughout the life of your claim.
In the Days Following Your Collision
In the days and weeks following your accident, the following steps can help you build your claim and seek the right guidance.
Follow Through With Your Medical Treatment
Seeking medical care isn’t the only critical step after your accident, but actually following through with your treatment.
Depending on the severity of your injuries, you’ll likely need to follow your doctor’s recommendations for recovery. Whether taking prescription medication, going through rehabilitation, or getting surgery, it’s important to follow through with the treatment your physician orders.
You may feel frustrated during your healing process, but you should never quit in the middle of your treatment. If you have questions or concerns about anything having to do with your recovery, discuss them with your doctor.
The primary issue with failing to follow through with your medical treatment is the negative reflection on your medical records. When the opposing party looks over your medical records, they may question how severe your injuries truly were if you never even finished treatment. This can pose a significant problem when it comes time to pursue financial compensation for your injuries.
To avoid any issues with your case and ensure you give your body the greatest chance to heal properly, it’s best to complete medical treatment.
Continue Gathering Relevant Evidence
At the scene of your accident, you may have started to collect documentation and evidence for your claim, including the other driver’s information, photos and videos, and witness contact information.
Even in the days after your collision, you can still continue to gather and procure evidence to help with your case. For example, you can retain any type of correspondence you receive regarding your accident, including medical bills. You may also consider keeping a pain journal to keep a real-time account of your injuries, pain, treatment, and the like.
Evidence can substantially help build your case and help you achieve a better outcome.
Schedule an Appointment With a Qualified Car Accident Lawyer
While you might feel as though you can handle your car accident claim solely on your own, it’s always a good idea to consult with an attorney. Even the simplest collision cases can quickly take a turn for the worst, requiring the knowledge of a skilled accident lawyer.
A majority of car accident lawyers offer free consultations. During your initial meeting, you’ll have the chance to discuss your car wreck with the attorney while they ask questions and gather information. Based on the details provided, the lawyer can give you legal guidance and advise you on the next steps to take for your case.
Important Details to Remember Post-Accident
The following details can help protect you and your rights to compensation after a car accident.
Avoid Speaking to the Other Driver’s Insurer
After a collision, it’s common to have the other driver’s insurance company communicate with you, asking for a statement. They approach you innocently to make you believe they simply want to ask a few questions regarding your accident. What you might not realize is that the insurer has an ulterior motive.
Insurance companies are always looking for ways to limit their liability or, even better, avoid paying your claim altogether. For this reason, they employ many tried and true tactics to help them achieve their goals. One of these common tactics is contacting car accident victims for a recorded statement.
During your statement, they may trick you into saying something that can negatively affect your claim. And unfortunately, once you say something that the insurer records, you cannot take it back. They will try to use your own words against you to benefit themselves.
Therefore, if the other driver’s insurer contacts you, you can inform them you cannot speak to them without first discussing it with your attorney. Once you have an attorney, the insurance company will communicate directly with your lawyer.
Similarly, Limit Communication with the Other Driver
If you exchange information with the other driver, they may try to contact you themselves in the days following your accident. Try to avoid engaging with them too much, as, like their insurance company, they might have not-so-nice motives.
If the other driver tries to contact you, either avoid them altogether or tell them you’re letting your lawyer handle everything related to your accident. If they have anything they need to discuss, they can direct communication to your attorney. It is better to be safe than sorry.
Lay Low on Social Media
Surprisingly enough, social media can play a role in your car accident claim.
It is common practice for the opposing party to want to keep an eye on you, including your social media. They’re hoping to see something they can use to build their case against your claim.
For example, if a car accident victim claims they suffered a serious back injury during their accident but posts pictures and videos dancing at a wedding, the insurance company might take this to mean they’re lying about their injuries.
Insurance companies can try to spin anything to suit their narrative. Therefore, it’s best to avoid posting anything that an insurer might use against you and hurt your chances of compensation.
Time is Limited for Legal Claims Stemming from Your Collision
Every car accident case is different. While many collision cases resolve without the need to file a lawsuit, some car accident victims do need to take legal action to recover financially for injuries and losses.
It is important to keep in mind there is a limited time to file lawsuits for car accidents. Every state has a statute of limitations, which restricts your ability to file a lawsuit. Statutes of limitations typically vary from one to four years, depending on your location.
The minute your accident occurs, a time clock begins to run. Once the time allotted by the statute of limitations has expired, you’re unlikely to have the opportunity to pursue compensation for your collision.
While you may have the opportunity to file your lawsuit, it is unlikely to go very far. Upon noticing the statute has run entirely, the opposing party will not hesitate to bring this to the court’s attention, and a judge can dismiss your case.
This is only one of the reasons it is so helpful to have an attorney on your side. A lawyer can help ensure they handle every task related to your case promptly to avoid anything impeding your ability to seek damages for your accident.
Your Attorney Has Your Back
It’s helpful to remember your attorney always does everything with your best interest at heart.
When you make the move to hire a lawyer, you don’t have to wonder or second guess anything having to do with your case. Once your attorney takes on your case, they’ll do everything necessary to work toward the best possible outcome.
Among the many tasks your attorney handles, some of the most significant includes:
- Investigating your car wreck
- Drafting and mailing a demand letter
- Filing a lawsuit, if needed
- Obtaining evidence to strengthen your case
- Determining liability
- Calculating the value of your case
- Communicating with the opposing party
- Negotiating on your behalf
Having an attorney on your side allows you to focus on what matters most, like your physical recovery, while you allow your lawyer to handle everything for you.
As Soon as You Can, Consult an Experienced Car Accident Attorney
Car Accident Attorney, Phillip J. Barkett
Getting into a car accident can be a particularly trying situation, especially if it is your first accident. Instead of trying to handle everything on your own, seek the help of a car accident lawyer.
Attorneys that have experience in handling collisions can give you personalized advice based on your particular situation. This is especially helpful when you’re attempting to pursue maximum compensation for your losses.
Having a car accident lawyer handle your claim will often end in a better result, plus giving you peace of mind throughout the process. You have nothing to lose by reaching out for a free case evaluation with a personal injury lawyer today.