What to Do if You’ve Been in an Accident

Image by press 👍 and ⭐ from Pixabay. 

There are so many kinds of accidents that happen every day. People are injured in their cars, on bikes, at work, at the doctor’s office, on motorcycles, at stores or other public premises, and by products in their own homes. And that isn’t even an exhaustive list.  

So what do you do when you have been hurt in an accident?  

Obviously, if you or someone else is hurt, call an ambulance right away. Never delay needed treatment. Even if you think your injuries are minor, get checked out by trained medical personnel. Something as simple as a minorly stiff neck in the evening can become a huge back problem by morning.  

Your next step depends on whose fault the accident is. If it is due to someone else’s negligence, intention, carelessness, or recklessness, your actions may be different than if there is no one to blame but yourself.  

Think about where the fault lies for the accident. Did you trip on that sidewalk because you’re clumsy or because the city hadn’t repaired an uneven crack in the paving?  

Get Information from Everyone Else at the Scene

Image by MichaelGaida from Pixabay.  

If the accident involves vehicles, exchange insurance information as well as names and contact information. Write down or take photos of all the license plates and details of all the vehicles involved.  

Make sure to get the name and badge number of all the police officers responding to the accident. Look around to see if there were any witnesses, and get their information, too.  

Document the Scene and Injuries

If you think your accident and injury might not be your fault, or even if you aren’t sure, start documenting right away. Take pictures of the location immediately so that you have evidence of how it was at the time of the accident.  

Photograph your injuries. Yes, this can be uncomfortable, but it is necessary. Ensure you have adequate lighting so the injury and any swelling can be seen clearly in the shot. If needed, have someone else take the photos so that everything is apparent.  

Get the names and affiliations of your doctors and, if possible, any emergency medical technicians who help you or the injured party.  

Even if you think the accident might be your fault, don’t say so. You don’t yet know all of the circumstances, and you might be opening yourself up to liability that may not rightfully be yours.  

File an Insurance Claim and Accident Report

Make sure to get copies of the accident report from the police. In some situations, and when there are no injuries, the police may not come. In that case, file a report with the police department yourself. You may also need to file a report with your DMV.  

Make sure to call your insurer and begin the process of filing an insurance claim right away, too. Even if you aren’t at fault and your insurer shouldn’t have liability, filing a claim is an additional way to get your side of the story on record.  

Consider a Personal Injury Attorney

If your case goes to court, you don’t want to try representing yourself.  Image by David Mark from Pixabay.  

Insurance companies, as well as governments, commercial properties, and other parties who might be liable for your injury, will do everything in their power to pay little or nothing. This will leave you high and dry with medical bills, pain and suffering, and potentially reduced earning potential.  

Filing court cases and dealing with all the legal aspects of a personal injury claim is confusing and time-consuming at best. At worst, you can lose a case on technicalities you didn’t even understand.  

Personal injury attorneys are professionals. They know the ins and outs of the law in your area and can get you the best compensation for your injury.