Immediate Steps to Take at The Scene of An Accident
Have you recently been critically injured in an accident? There are things you need to do right away in order to protect your right to a legal claim and to minimize the potential of your injuries.
At the scene of the accident, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and confused about next steps to take. However, planning ahead by knowing these steps can also assist you if you are involved in an accident in the future. The first thing you need to do after being involved in a vehicle accident is to contact the authorities. If you are not yet sure of the damage to your vehicle or to your person, it may be tempting to avoid contacting the police. However, it is strongly recommended that you have the police and paramedics on the scene.
Many of the most severe injuries after a vehicle accident cannot be easily spotted with a naked eye. This means you need to have medical personnel available to assist you. Contacting the authorities will also enable you to file a police report which may prove important for your insurance claim purposes or for filing a personal injury claim in the future. Looking for witnesses and taking photographs are the next important steps you need to take at the scene of an accident.
It may be difficult for you to remember vital details that can prove pertinent to your insurance claim or your personal injury claim if you do not gather this evidence immediately. Talking to witnesses at the scene of the accident can enable you to record their contact information so you can reach out to them later. Witnesses who may have seen what happened during the accident should also be connected with officers at the scene. Police officers may follow up with these witnesses and collect additional statements that are formal.
If you or someone in your vehicle is able to take photographs of the accident itself including your injuries the other driver’s car, your car, skid marks and any relevant debris, this can be vital to developing a claim regarding liability in a vehicle accident. Do not hesitate to contact Shulman Rogers and our experienced injury attorneys if you have recently been hurt.