Whether you’re injured or not, being involved in a car accident is never a pleasant situation. It can be made even worse if you don’t know what to do in the event you’re involved in a wreck.
It’s a good idea to read up on the steps to take after a car accident before it happens to you. Read on to learn more about how you should handle a car accident.
What to Do After a Car Wreck
- Assess your injuries. The first thing you should do if you’re involved in an accident is to assess your body for injuries. If you are badly hurt and not in immediate danger, try not to move too much, as sudden movements may exacerbate your injuries. If your injuries are relatively minor, be cautious with your movements.
- Alert the authorities. The next thing you should do is call the police so they can come and take an accident report. Be sure you provide all the relevant details to the officer. If there is something you don’t know, don’t make an assumption. Instead, tell the officer that you are unsure. Obtaining an accident report is crucial for providing documentation to the insurance company. Without an accident report, everything you tell the insurance company is hearsay.
- Document the accident. Take as many photos and videos of the accident scene as possible. Get footage of your own vehicle’s damage as well as the other vehicle’s damage. Record images and video of the traffic and weather conditions. This documentation will be valuable to your claim later on, as it will show many of the details of the incident to help prove the other party is at fault for the crash.
- Exchange information. Be sure to record the name(s), address(es), and phone number(s) of anyone involved in the wreck. Take a photo of their driver’s license, license plate, proof of insurance, and vehicle registration. This information will be highly useful later on when you go to seek damages.
- Seek medical attention. Regardless of whether your injuries are severe or minor, always seek medical care following an accident. The human body has shock responses that block the pain from any injuries you experience. Even though you may not feel hurt immediately following the accident, your injuries could take hours, days, or even weeks to present themselves. Protect your body by getting checked out right away.
- Keep an accurate record. The last thing you want to do is let all your hard work collecting information about the accident go to waste. It’s very important for you to keep all the documents regarding your accident together, in one place. Do your best to keep it as organized as possible. That way, when you seek help from the insurance company and/or your attorney, it will be easy to identify the documents that will be most helpful to your claim.
- Don’t post on social media. While it may be tempting to post your accident to social media, resist the urge. You’ll be much better off in the long run if you keep this information to yourself. Anything you post on social media can be used against you later, so you want to make sure you don’t post anything that could incriminate you. It’s easy to take things out of context, so it’s best to avoid posting anything about the incident on social media.
We’re Here For You
If you were involved in an injury-sustaining car accident, you may be entitled to receive compensation. Our attorneys at Witherington Injury Law are highly experienced in car accident cases and have helped many other people, just like you. Our team is prepared to help you, too! Don’t hesitate to contact our firm with your case right away. After all, it’s your health that’s on the line.
Call the experienced Nashville attorneys at Witherington Injury Law today at (615) 697-6503 for a free consultation.