9 steps to take immediately after an accident

Millions of people are injured in accidents each year. It is best to be prepared in case you are involved in an accident. This article will help you understand the steps you should take after an accident so that, if necessary, you can file a personal injury claim.

1) Call 911 or the nearest police department to report the accident. Even though you may not have been in a serious accident, you should still report the accident in case the other party wants to file a liability claim.

2) Make sure you are out of the way of traffic. Hundreds of pedestrians are killed on the road after an accident and you could avoid being one of them. It will most likely shake after an accident, so be sure to be aware of your surroundings.

3) Verify that the police officer has completed a report and that it is correct. If you do not receive a copy of the police report at the scene, be sure to obtain a copy from the police department. Since the police officer most likely did not witness the accident, it is recommended that you review the report carefully.

4) Record information about any of the witnesses to the accident and what they saw. Also try to get the name, phone number, and address of the driver and each passenger in the other vehicle. It is also important to note the name of the police officer, the police department, and any emergency vehicles on the scene. You may need these notes later if you are trying to file a personal injury claim.

5) Take pictures of the damage to both vehicles and the license plate of the other vehicle with your cell phone or a disposable camera that you should keep in your car. As stated above, even if it is a minor accident, you still need to perform all of these steps. You do not want to be in a situation where the other driver claims more damage than what occurred and you cannot prove otherwise.

6) Find out the name of the towing company and the location of where it is being towed. To minimize your stress after an accident, get all the information you need to recover your car BEFORE it is towed. In this way, in addition to worrying about what you are going to do with the accident, you will not have to worry about recovering your car.

7) Even if you are not seriously injured, go to the hospital or doctor immediately after the accident. In some cases, your injury may only manifest itself 24-72 hours after the accident. So be sure to monitor your condition and seek immediate medical attention because your injury may be more serious than you think.

8) Consult a personal injury attorney to see if you have a case. Even if you don’t think you need a lawyer, get the advice of one anyway because they will often give you a free case evaluation.

9) It is best not to discuss your injury claim with anyone until you have spoken to an attorney.

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