What Should You Do Immediately After a Car Accident?

Being hurt in a car crash is something you never expect to happen, but how you respond in the hours after the collision can have a significant impact on your ability to pursue compensation from the other driver. Here are 10 things you should do immediately after the wreck and how an experienced accident injury lawyer can make the difference in your case. 

In a Car Accident? 10 Things to Do Right Away 

1. Assess Yourself for Injuries 

First and foremost, you should check if you are injured in any way after the crash. Try to stay calm and look for critical issues like bleeding, head injuries, or an inability to move any part of your body. Make a mental note of what hurts so you can report this to emergency personnel. 

2. Assess Others in Your Vehicle  

If you are not severely injured, you should check on any other passengers who are in your vehicle next. If a passenger is crying or otherwise making noise, this means they are alive and breathing. Focus your first rescue efforts on people who are quiet and may be unconscious or need resuscitation. 

3. Move Your Vehicle to the Side of the Road 

If you can drive and your vehicle can be moved, try to get it to the side of the road and out of the way of traffic. This lowers the risk of a secondary crash or a multi-car accident because someone doesn't anticipate your vehicle being stopped in the road. Just don't go very far or leave the scene since this could cause you to incur legal consequences. 

4. Call 911  

If you or anyone else were hurt in the accident, you should call 911 as soon as you can to get an ambulance on the way. Even if you think the injuries aren't that bad, it's difficult to know for sure and better to err on the side of caution.  

5. Provide First Aid If You're Able 

When on the line with emergency services, they will direct you on what steps to take to help the people around you. They will ask you questions about how many people were in the collision, where they are located, and what condition they are in. It's important to follow the responder's instructions, especially if they ask you to perform CPR. Never move someone that has been hurt, since this could potentially cause their injuries to worsen. 

6. Look for Any Witnesses That May Be Nearby  

Once everyone involved in the accident has gotten the help they need, take a moment to check your surroundings for any witnesses nearby that may have seen the crash happen. You can ask them for their contact information so you can give it to the police when they arrive. This makes it easier to get witness statements on record before people get busy or forget the details of what occurred. 

7. Exchange Contact Information With the Other Driver 

Again, if you and the other driver aren't in critical condition, you'll need to exchange basic information with each other. You should be polite to the other driver but also careful not to say anything that could be misconstrued as an admission of guilt. For example, never apologize for the accident, even if you're doing so just to express concern. The other driver could report to their insurance company or the police that you said the accident was your fault. 

8. Take Photographs of the Damage  

You can use your cell phone to snap photos of the accident before any vehicles are moved to capture an accurate visual representation that can help strengthen your case later on. Having pictures of the crash scene makes it easier for officials to reconstruct the collision to find out what happened and how. 

9. Call Your Insurance Company  

It's a good idea to report the accident to your insurance company soon after the incident since any delay can be used against you to deny your claim. You don't have to give them a lot of information or guess about what you think caused it, and it's best not to. It's your insurance carrier's job to determine the sequence of events and the extent of your injuries. You only need to give them the basic facts.

10. Contact a Qualified Accident Injury Lawyer

One of the most valuable things you can do after a car crash is to consult with an experienced car accident lawyer like Hilliard Law right away. The earlier you get a lawyer on board, the more they can do to protect your rights and gather evidence to prove your case. 

Were you or a loved one were hurt in a car accident? Taking these steps can help you get your recovery and your legal case started off on the right foot.