A car accident is something that you are never expecting to happen. Car accidents almost always take a driver by surprise and can cause immediate shock and be overwhelming. While nobody wants to be in a car accident it is best to be prepared for the worst. Knowing the steps that you should take next after a car accident is essential as it can help to protect your rights, ensure safety, and can help alleviate the strain that can come later in a personal injury case. At LifeLaw Personal Injury our Utah car accident lawyers want to make sure you are prepared for any eventuality, so here is a step by step guide on what you should do in the event you are in a motor vehicle accident.
Step 1: Ensure Safety and Call Emergency Services
The immediate aftermath of a car accident is often the most overwhelming, making your next actions even more important. After an accident remember to do the following:
Check For Any Injuries: Your safety is the top priority after a crash. Make sure to check yourself and any of your passengers for any injuries. If you or anyone has been injured seek medical attention immediately. If your injuries are severe, call 911 and get to the hospital immediately.
Move Vehicles to a Safe Location: If it is safe to do so and your vehicle is drivable, try your best to move it and any other vehicles involved to the side of the road to prevent further accidents. Turn on your hazard lights as well to help to alert other drivers that there is an issue on the road.
Call 911: Here in Utah, regardless of how severe or minor the accident is, the police must be called to the scene. Calling the police to the scene is also key for any potential personal injury case. When the police arrive at the scene it ensures that the officer creates a police report. Police reports are vital in the legal process as it details the facts of the accident, gathers the information from the accident, and has a determination of who is at fault determined by the officer.
Step 2: Exchange Information
In the midst of everything that is going on after a crash, gathering information is important. At the scene of the accident make sure to:
Gather Details From All Involved Parties: Go to everyone involved in the crash and gather the following information: their names, phone numbers, insurance information, as well as the vehicle details (make, model, and license plate numbers).
Avoid Admitting Fault: In the heat of the moment it can be easy to let your tongue slip and admit fault for something that you did not cause. Try your best to not admit fault at the scene of the accident. Simply exchange information with the other drivers and answer all of the questions that the police may ask. It is not the job of the drivers at the scene to determine who is at fault, let the police and insurance companies determine responsibility.
Step 3: Document the Accident Scene
Evidence is key in a potential personal injury case, and it matters most at the scene of the accident. Take the following steps to thoroughly document the scene of the accident:
Take Photos and Videos: A picture is worth a thousand words, and pictures and videos can describe the accident much better than any statement can. If it is safe to do so, use your phone to take as many photos and videos of the accident. Make sure that you capture the damage that was done to the vehicles, any skid marks left on the road, the weather and road conditions, traffic signs and signals, as well as any visible injuries you or anyone else has received.
Note the Surrounding: While not completely necessary our Utah car accident lawyers strongly recommend writing a short statement of how the crash occurred while at the scene of the accident. This statement should include the date, time of the accident, weather conditions, and the exact location of the accident. This information can be extremely useful in a personal injury case.
Step 4: Speak With Witnesses
Speaking with any witnesses is crucial after an accident as their story can help clear up what happened. Make sure to do the following when speaking with witnesses:
Identify Witnesses: Look around the accident scene for any witnesses who may have seen the accident occur. Try to reach out to these people and request their phone number and email addresses and ask if they would be willing to provide their statement to the police. These independent witnesses can help establish liability by providing an unbiased account of how the accident occurred, and their perspective can help determine who is at fault.
Record Statements: Ask the witness if it is okay to record or write down their account of what happened. With how important these statements can be in the aftermath of a crash, having a written or recorded statement can help to disprove any lies that the at fault party may claim.
Step 5: Seek Medical Attention
Depending on the severity of your motor vehicle accident you may feel injured, or you may not. Regardless of your pain levels it is key to seek medical attention immediately.
Visit a Medical Clinic: Even if you feel perfectly fine after the accident, it is absolutely imperative that you get a medical evaluation as soon as possible. The adrenaline from an accident can make your injuries fly under the radar and some lie beneath the skin. Getting a proper medical evaluation will reveal all the injuries that you may have suffered from, and will help you to create a treatment plan to recover.
Documenting Your Injuries: Attending medical treatment ensures that your medical treatment has been documented. Your doctors and specialists will take detailed notes about your pain levels, the progress that you have made, and the cost of your treatment. These records serve as the primary evidence in your injury case and are the foundation for how much your case may be valued at.
Step 6: Consult With a Personal Injury Attorney
Seek Legal Advice: Consulting with a skilled car accident lawyer can help make this confusing process much easier. Here at LifeLaw our Utah car accident lawyers are here to help 24/7 and are here to give you a free expert consultation. Let our experts answer any questions you might have and help your case move as smoothly as possible.
Navigating the aftermath of a car accident is extremely difficult, with high emotions, adrenaline rushes, and possibly injuries it can be difficult to know what to do next if you aren’t prepared. By following the steps listed above you will be able to navigate a car accident with ease, and set yourself up for a potential injury claim. If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident make sure to call the best Utah car accident lawyers at LifeLaw Personal Injury. Our team of experts are here to fight for you, we will work tirelessly on your case and fret over every single detail so you can focus on what is really important, your recovery. Contact us today for a free consultation and to discuss your options.