Being involved in car accidents is stressful, overwhelming, and jarring. This is especially true when you are injured. Even so, what you do following the accident is very important and can be the difference between being successful in the personal injury claim you will start and having the claim denied.
According to Detroit truck accident lawyers Mike Morse, right after the car accident, you should focus on the following, whenever possible.
Right After The Car Accident
Always remain calm and do what you can so you do not panic. The following quick steps are very important:
- Check for injuries – Do so for you and if possible for the other motorists.
- Make sure you are safe – When the vehicle creates a safety problem for others, it can be moved. If not, at least turn off the engine and then turn on your hazard lights.
- Call 911 – This should be done as soon as you are safe.
Exchanging Information
After you are safe and you called 911, try to exchange information with the other drivers. You will need to focus on the following:
- Contact information
- Names
- License plate numbers
- Driver’s license numbers
- Insurance information
- Details about accident location
- Color, model, and make for the vehicles involved
- Eye witness contact information
Take Photographs
Photo proof is very useful in personal injury claims. You can use your cell phone and always remember this for taking useful photographs after a car accident:
- Try to take photos from various angles so that you capture details about what happened, like fluids on the road and physical damage.
- Try to take some photos that show the scale of what happened.
- Always take pictures from a distance and close-ups.
- Photograph all vehicle damage.
- Photograph the injuries you or other people involved suffered.
Go To The Doctor
Even if you think you were not injured, it is important to get checked out by a medical professional. This is because some conditions only show symptoms some time after the collision.
It should also be known that going to the doctor is very important because you are going to then get medical records that support your personal injury claim. You will need copies of several medical records whenever injured. The medical records have information about all health care phases. This includes diagnosis, treatment, follow-up treatment, billing information, and medications.
Make sure you gather these very important medical records, even if some have to be requested separately:
- Hospital admission
- Emergency room services like stitches, surgery, and X-rays
- Emergency medical services
- Ambulance ride records
- Physical therapy records
- Chiropractic treatment records
- Prescription medications
- Mental health professional treatment records
Document Lost Wages
Last but not least, you need to gather records that prove what income you lost. This includes copies of direct deposit reports, paycheck stubs, tips records, and all documents capable of showing how much work you missed together with wages lost. In the unwanted situation in which the injuries are really serious and you cannot get back to work, extra financial compensation is gained to cover future wages lost.