In the year 2018, there were more than 34000 fatal car accidents were recorded in the United States. Car accidents continue to be the number one reason for unnatural deaths not only in America but in different parts of the world.
Experts are of the opinion that it is important to take certain proactive and immediate steps following a car accident. Taking these can help in aiding physical recovery, preventing emotional turmoil, and ensuring that financial issues and problems are taken care of.
In this article, we speak to legal experts, James McKiernan Lawyers and ask them about five important things individuals and families should do after being involved in a car accident.
List of 5 Important Things to do Immediately after being in a Car Accident
- Get Medical Help-
The first and probably the most important thing to do after being involved in a car accident is going to the hospital. Even if your injuries are not of a visible nature, car accidents are notorious for leading to internal injuries, ruptures, and bleeding.
According to lawyers, checking into a medical institution can also help build a solid case for your car accident personal injury claim. The current medical bills can help convince the judge and jury about an estimate that will come in handy when helping you gain full recovery.
- Contact an Expert Legal Attorney-
Arguing with the insurance provider of the perpetrator of the accident, settling bills in the hospital, claiming compensation, etc. can become an overwhelming experience. Especially if you try to do everything on your own. Here is where the role of an attorney becomes important.
More than just offering legal support, your attorney can become a source of moral and emotional support. With so much paperwork to do, asking your friends or family members to do the same can be quite difficult.
- Collect as much evidence from the scene of the accident as possible-
Evidence plays a key role in pushing a case towards a favorable judgment. Footage from the dashcam of your vehicle, recordings on the phone, and other images and videos can be the difference between claiming rightful compensation or being denied for your rights.
If you are not totally incapacitated, you need to ensure that you collect as much evidence as possible. Installing a dash camera on your vehicle is something that almost all legal experts handling personal injury car accident lawsuits mention.
- Avoid Speaking or Discussing to the Lawyer or the Insurance Agent of the Perpetrator-
Until your lawyer arrives on the scene, it is best to not talk or discuss anything with anyone from the opposing team. The perpetrator’s lawyer might try to talk to you and manipulate you into answering some questions. He or she can then use the same in a court of law against you.
You are well within your rights to state that you will not talk to anyone unless you have access to a legal attorney. Once you sign a legal attorney to represent you, ensure that all communication is being done by them only and not by you.
- Concentrate on the Recovery Process following the Car Accident-
If you are lucky enough to find a good car accident lawyer, you can concentrate on recovering completely from the accident. This is because your personal injury compensation would be rightfully awarded to you and you would be able to pay all the medical bills and fees.
Many accident victims also require physiotherapy following a serious accident. In fact, complete recovery can take up to a year or more. All this while, you can be at peace knowing that you are being compensated for lost wages or salaries and your family is not suffering.
The Bottom Line
In this article, we have tried to list down the five major to-do-things you need to consider following an accident. As we have already mentioned, following the same can help you physically, emotionally, and financially. If you wish to know more about what you should ask your lawyers before hiring them, please write in your queries in the comments below and we will ask our expert at the James McKiernan law firm to answer them.