Panic and confusion are the first emotions that set in after a car accident. If you or a loved one has been a victim of a car accident you may be entitled to receive financial compensation from thousands to even hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on the extent of the injuries sustained. Despite being emotionally distressed, it is necessary to take the right steps immediately after an accident for you to maximize your auto accident claim. In this article, we explain what actions to take and avoid after a car accident.
What to Do After a Car Accident
- Make sure all the parties involved (especially yourself) are well and safe, check for injuries. Seek medical help, call 911 as soon as possible, even if you think your injuries are just minor. Calm down and take note of important details about the car crash.
- Begin chatting with the other driver while waiting for the police and the ambulance to arrive, if you can, and see if they will admit fault or not. At this point it is important that you begin gathering all evidence as possible pertaining to the crash. Collecting all necessary information like the other driver’s name, license and registration, vehicle plate no., insurance information and if there are other people involved like witnesses and if they are willing to give a statement, their name and contact no. You should also take as much pictures as you can, the surroundings, the damages, the weather, traffic signs etc. This is crucial and very important to build your case, it will help you prove that it was the other driver’s fault.
- Talk to the police, the information provided on the police statement will be used to build your case, this includes your statement and the statement of the at-fault party. This piece of document will be useful as evidence to prove the other driver’s negligence.
- Talk with your Insurance company. Yes, you are obligated to talk and cooperate with your insurance provider, and provide them of all the information that is relevant to the accident. But you have to keep in mind, that you should avoid making remarks about who was at-fault in the accident. Often at times our words get misinterpreted and other people may say that you are partially negligent yourself. It is recommended that you hire an experienced car accident attorney before providing any sensitive information to your insurance company and the at-fault driver’s insurance provider. Or generally do not talk to the at-fault driver’s insurance company under any circumstances without your auto accident lawyer present.
- Hire an Experienced Auto Accident Attorney.
Activities to Avoid After a Car Accident
- Many people make the mistake of oversharing on social media. If you intend to claim injuries that have altered your life, it would not be prudent for you to share photos of you doing activities such as playing contact sports, doing rigorous workouts, DIY projects at home, etc. Although you may feel up to it or better, it’s not safe for you to engage in such activities and you may negatively impact your case.
- Do not miss appointments with your doctors. Again, although you may feel better, missing appointments with your treating doctors may have a negative impact on your health and potential recovery. The other party will request your medical records and doctor visits. Any gaps in treatment will be highlighted throughout the litigation.
- Sometimes after an auto accident, it may be difficult to prove who was responsible, or “at fault” for causing the accident. Do not admit fault or apologize in any way at the scene or if you have a phone call with the insurance company. This can contribute to your liability and impact your recovery in a negative way. Georgia is a “comparative negligence” state which raises additional issues in your case. You may still recover damages if it is determined that you are partially at fault in the car accident, however, only an experienced attorney can help you recover what you are rightfully owed.
Here at Council & Associates, we have experienced and knowledgeable personal injury lawyers that will dedicate time and resources to investigate and to interpret all the information pertaining to your case. This is necessary for you to get compensation for the injuries, loss of wages, medical bills, especially for the pain and suffering the accident has brought upon.
If you have any questions or you want to know how you can proceed with your claim, do not hesitate to contact us. Here at Council & Associate will be here to fight for your right to claim. Call (404) 562-8857
