No one wants to be in a car accident, but unfortunately, there are thousands of accidents every single day, so it is necessary to always be prepared just in case it should happen to you. Naturally, the very first thing you should do is make sure you and your passengers are okay, move to safety, secure the scene with cones or flares and then proceed to contact emergency services as needed, as well as the police and fire departments. Knowing beforehand what to do in the moments, days and weeks after a car accident will save you a lot of trouble in the long run.
Contact Your Insurance Company
You will want to contact your insurance company as quickly as possible, preferably while you are still are the scene of the accident, as long as you are able to do so. If you have called the police to the scene, which is always a good idea, no matter the severity of the accident, they will provide a detailed report of the accident that you can then give to your insurance agency. Trying to provide a report on your on own isn’t the best idea as you will be shaken up and not thinking clearly and you’ll have more important things to worry about, like your safety and well-being. Your insurance agency will able to tell you what your next steps should be, particularly if your vehicle is unable to be driven, and they’ll let you know what information they need from you and from the other driver.
Hire A Personal Injury Lawyer
Even if you aren’t involved in a major accident and your injuries aren’t that severe it is still a good idea to hire a personal injury lawyer. Even minor injuries can result in significant medical bills and you will most likely miss work because of your accident as well. Oakland personal injury lawyer will be able to help you sue for and win damages in a legal case. This is especially important when it comes to car accidents when another driver was at fault even if you were also partially to blame. Car accidents and the resulting injuries can quickly become very expensive and a personal injury lawyer can help ease this financial burden. The vast majority of cases are settled out of court and never have to go to trial and you will rarely have to worry about paying unless you win your case.
Keep Records Of The Incident
It is important to keep detailed, accurate records of the car accident as well as your insurance claim and your dealings with your personal injury lawyer. You’ll want to keep these on file in a safe place, just in case you should ever need evidence of precisely how events played out or in case you should ever want them for your own personal reference.
Car accidents are scary and unsettling even if they are just minor fender benders, but knowing what to do each step of the way will help you remain calm and respond appropriately.
