What to do if you’re Involved in a Car Accident

Accidents happen every day. Many accidents are fender-benders, but other times accidents cause injuries that can impact the quality of life of those involved.

Having a plan in place if you’re involved in a car wreck can help you. Talking through your plan with your family can prepare you and is an excellent step to take.

We’ve outlined advice we’d tell any client to take if they are involved in an accident.

If anyone in your vehicle is injured and needs immediate medical attention, call 911 as soon as you can. It’s important to get an ambulance headed your way as soon as possible, particularly if you are in a rural area. This can take time, as can the ambulance ride to a medical center, and time is your greatest enemy when you’re injured.

If you don’t believe you or anyone else involved is badly injured, start documenting. Your best tool is probably right by your side: your cell phone. Take photos with it. Get what you can from where you are in your vehicle. If you prefer, you can start videotaping. State the facts of what happened. Record damage to your vehicle and the other vehicle. Get a photo of their license plate and the make of the vehicle if possible, just in case the other driver flees the scene.

Use your camera on your phone to get info you might need later. If you exchange insurance information, you can snap a photo of their card to be sure you write down the information they give you correctly. Do both – the photo and a written exchange of information – each as a backup for the other method.

Don’t discuss the accident with the other driver. Ask them if they are OK. If the other driver accuses you of causing the accident, stand up for yourself and tell the police officer everything the other driver said.

Leave emotion out of it if possible. Accidents are, many times, highly charged and emotional. Don’t accuse anyone of wrongdoing, and don’t accept blame. Tell the other party you’ll discuss it later. If the other party is involved seems very angry or combative, it is best to call 911 and let police officers handle the accident. Don’t get out of the vehicle. The vehicle is your best protection against aggressive behavior.

If you are able to safely do so, and especially if you believe the other driver is intoxicated, take video of the other driver walking around the accident scene. But only get this if you can do so safely. No evidence is worth an angry confrontation with another driver.

The police will likely interview everyone involved and create a report. Make a note of which jurisdiction took the report, and make plans to get a copy later. Reports typically take about 24 hours for officers to file, possibly longer. You may need it for insurance purposes. Read it through carefully to be sure everything is accurate.

Don’t sign anything from an insurance company until you’ve had a lawyer review it. Anything an insurance company asks you to sign, including paperwork from your own company, is usually bad for the motorist but great for the insurance company.

Even if you think your accident is only minor, it’s good to discuss your case with an attorney to be sure you aren’t overlooking anything. We offer a free consultation if you’d like to discuss your case with us.

Contact the experienced accident attorneys of English, Lucas, Priest & Owsley LLP at (270) 781-6500 or use our online contact form. We will discuss your case with you, and be sure you are getting the compensation you deserve.