6 Things You Should Do Following an Auto Accident

6 Things You Should Do Following an Auto Accident

auto accidentAnyone who has ever been in a car accident will tell you that it’s one of the most stressful ordeals you can experience. Even in cases where injuries are minor, not only can your day be ruined, you’re looking at weeks, or possibly even months, of dealing with the aftermath.

The good news is that there are steps you can take to alleviate some of the stress… and those steps are to be taken immediately following the accident:

Call the Police

Regardless of the size or severity of your auto accident, it’s always a great idea to call law enforcement to the scene. These days, everyone has a cell phone, so there’s a good chance that this step will be done for you — most likely more than once. The police will be able to help document the event, which your insurance company can use to support your impending claim and find answers to questions they may have.

Exchange Information

This is probably a given, but exchanging information with the other driver is something that you should take care of as soon as you can. Here’s the trick, though — make sure that you ask to actually see the other driver’s license and insurance card, because — well, let’s just say that not everyone out there is completely honest following an accident. If in doubt, ask a police officer to gather the information for you, and take a photograph of the person’s license plate for back-up.

Seek Medical Attention

If injuries are serious, an ambulance will definitely be on its way, whether you call them or not. But even in cases where you feel perfectly fine, it’s a good idea to head to a doctor as soon as possible. This doctor can conduct x-rays and any other tests he or she may think are necessary. Injuries often don’t show up for several days or even weeks after an accident, so it’s better to be safe than sorry. You may be perfectly fine today, but miserable tomorrow.

Do Not Admit Fault

Admitting fault might seem like the right thing to do when you believe that your actions caused the accident, but the truth is there may be additional factors at play involving the other driver that you’re unaware of. Perhaps he or she was texting at the time of the accident. Maybe the other driver’s speed was a contributing factor. If you admit fault at the scene, it could be difficult to backtrack once the truth comes out.

Take Pictures

Photographing the accident is a fantastic way to protect yourself against any accusations or questions that may arise later on. The police will document the event, but it’s in your best interest to do this, too. Use your cell phone’s camera to take some quick pictures at multiple angles that you can provide to your insurance company, and also snaps photos of the other vehicle so that you can give your insurance company a more in-depth look at the scene.

Contact an Attorney

Following an accident, the most important thing to worry about is the health of everyone involved. After that, though, you want to take steps to protect yourself. The best way to do this is to contact an attorney who will fight to protect your rights every step of the way. Having someone on your side can help you manage the stress of an accident and let you concentrate on what matters — yourself and your loved ones.

Have you had an accident and are in need of an attorney who will fight for your rights? Contact the Mintz Law Firm and we’ll get started on your case right away!

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