When You’re In An Accident

When you first get into an accident, it is normal to feel a surge of adrenaline. Your body may not feel like it is hurt and may even carry extra energy. Take a deep breathe and before assessing any property damage, make sure everyone in your vehicle is okay. Once your vehicle has been assessed, go over and make sure that anyone else involved in the accident is okay. It is imperative that you do not attempt to move anyone who might have neck or back injuries or who is unconscious.

Call the Police and Stay at the Scene

Report any accident to the police when there is an injury or significant property damage.  Don’t leave the scene until it’s appropriate.  This is when anyone who is injured has been cared for, information has been exchanged and any police report is complete. In the state of Nevada, police officers will no longer show up to a non-injury accident, so take this into account if no one appears to be injured. You will want to make sure that you get as much information and evidence from the original scene, as you will not have another chance.

Get Information From Drivers Involved, Passengers and Witnesses

Get the names, numbers, addresses, drivers’ license numbers, license plate numbers, and basic insurance information from all drivers involved.  Get passenger and witness names and contact information whenever possible.  Ask them what they saw. It is a smart idea to ask witnesses to provide a recorded statement on your phone’s voice recorder.

Take Pictures

A wise move at the scene of the accident, especially if police are not on the scene, is to take pictures of all of the damage and the placement of the vehicles. The more information and evidence that you gather, the easier it will be to find out fault and to have proof if you did not cause the accident and the other person contests liability. Take photos of the vehicles, the intersection and any damage that has occurred.

Report The Accident To Your Insurance Company

Call your insurance agent. You will want to contact your insurance company as soon as the accident happens so that they can open up a claim for the accident. This will allow property damage to be handled quickly and most insurance policies have rental car service should your vehicle not be able to be driven. You will want to make a full and complete report to your insurance company. Make sure that you take notes on who you spoke to and when. Also, you will want to review your current auto policy so that you know how you are covered. If you have questions about your policy, we are here to help you understand your coverage.

Get Checked Out

This is a hard one for people, you will need to see a doctor. You need to see a doctor even if you think you are okay as many injuries take hours or days to surface. If you do not see a doctor in the beginning when the accident first happens, it is a lot harder to prove that your injuries are due to the subject incident. Make sure that you keep track of all of the doctors names and information that you see as this may be important if you decide to file a lawsuit.

Track Medical Conditions

Your doctor will tell you to keep a pain journal. This journal will allow you to keep detailed records of your symptoms and any treatments that you receive. This will also allow you to keep a detailed record of specific times of the day that you feel pain and what activities you are no longer able to do as a result of the subject incident. This is all very important information for your attorney to know when trying to decide if you need to file a lawsuit.

Keep Receipts and Records That Apply to Your Claim

You will need to save any and all receipts or records that may apply to your insurance claim. Without this documentation, you may not be able to get the full amount of compensation that you are due. These receipts will include but are not limited to, rental vehicles, new car seats (if applicable), and any medical expenses.

Consult Hale Injury Law Firm

You need good advice but you need great representation. The team at Hale Injury Law will make sure you understand your options.