No matter how safe of a driver you think you are, you could still get into a car accident. If you spend enough time on the roads in Ohio, there will always be unsafe, reckless, and negligent drivers.
Unfortunately, many drivers who get into their first accident are younger or even first-time drivers. Because of their age and inexperience, younger drivers may not know what to do after their first accident. Listed below are important steps to take after a first-time car accident.
Get to a Safe Location
Right after an accident, make sure you and your passengers are safe. What this means is that if your vehicle is in a spot where you might cause a secondary collision or be injured somehow, then get out of there and move to an area where you will be safe.
Call 911 Right Away
Once you are safe, call 911 as soon as possible. Even if the accident does not appear to be very serious and would be considered just a fender-bender, contact the police anyway. If people are injured, having emergency personnel get there as quickly as possible is best for everyone involved.
Having a police officer present at the scene is also important. The officer can direct traffic to make sure secondary crashes do not happen. They can also investigate the cause of the accident, collect people’s information, including everyone involved in the crash and any witnesses. The officer will give citations to anyone who violated the rules of the road. Also, an accident report will be generated that contains all of the information the officer gathered at the scene, which can be useful for a later claim.
Take Pictures of the Scene
Most people have a smartphone in their pocket. Once you have made sure everyone is safe and 911 is called, start to take pictures if possible. Make sure you get clear photos of the damage to all of the vehicles involved in the crash. Make sure to get photos of where the vehicles ended up after the vehicles stopped. Finally, make sure to take photographs of the overall accident scene, such as the entire intersection or roadway, as well as any traffic control signs or stop lights.
All of this will give your car accident lawyer an opportunity to use these photos to demonstrate who caused the accident and the amount of damage that has been done to the vehicles involved. Photographs will be able to show if there were injuries involved as well.
Seek Medical Care
After a car accident, seek medical care as soon as possible. You should see a doctor, even if you think you are not injured. Even minor crashes can result in serious injuries. A lot of force is involved in a collision. Even if you do not think your injuries are serious, you cannot be sure that they will go away in a few days. At the very least, with seeing a doctor immediately, you will be able to be sure whether you have a serious injury or not. If it is serious, then a quick diagnosis and treatment plant will be the best way to get you back on your feet. Also, being seen by a doctor and following up with the treatment plan will help in any future litigation.
When your physician creates a treatment plan for you, make sure you follow it exactly. If your doctor prescribes medication, then make sure to take it. If your doctor wants you to undergo diagnostic testing, make sure you get the tests done. If physical therapy is prescribed, make sure you attend each therapy session. Not only will following your doctor’s orders will help you get better, but it will also help and support your case.
With most car accident injury lawsuits, if you are required to undergo a lot of treatment, then that usually demonstrates that your injuries are very serious. If you had months of treatment, many diagnostic tests, dozens of physical therapy appointments, and you made every single appointment, it demonstrates that your injuries were serious.
Contact the Insurance Company
If you have been injured by a negligent driver, in most cases, the liable party’s insurance company will issue out the compensation, which will likely be in the form of a settlement. Make sure to report any injuries you may have suffered, and when you do so, be honest about the extent of the injuries. Do not exaggerate the extent of the injuries, but also do not minimize them. If you are in serious pain, make sure they know.
Do not agree to do a recorded statement with anyone without having your own lawyer there and present; you could misunderstand a question and say something incorrectly or not clearly. Your statement will be recorded and transcribed. It could come back to haunt you in any future litigation where you are trying to win compensation for your injuries.
Keep a Diary
You should keep a diary after a serious car crash. The purpose of a diary is to create a daily or weekly record of what is going on in your life and how your car accident injury has affected your life. The purpose of this is because car accident litigation cases can take years to conclude. If your car accident case is not settled beforehand, it could be several years to get to the point of testifying at trial about how your injuries affected your life. A diary could refresh your recollection and give the jury a good idea of what you went through, the various doctor visits, treatments, and tests you have had to go through.
Contact an Experienced Lawyer
If you suffered injuries in your first-time car accident, the best course of action is to contact an experienced car accident lawyer. The at-fault driver will have an insurance company and a legal team all fighting to pay you as little money as possible for your injuries. You deserve to have a knowledgeable and skilled legal team on your side fighting for your rights.
Loveland Car Accident Lawyers at the Wolterman Law Office Are Here to Help Those Who Have Been Seriously Injured in Accidents
If you have been seriously injured in a car accident and need legal help, contact one of our skilled Loveland car accident lawyers at the Wolterman Law Office. We will make sure your rights are protected. To schedule a free consultation, call us at 513-488-1135 or contact us online. Located in Loveland, Ohio, we serve clients in Hamilton County, Fairfield, Norwood, and Forest Park.