Car accidents can be traumatic experiences, especially when they are severe enough to cause physical injuries. Unfortunately, the risk of sustaining a car crash injury is relatively high. In fact, more than 5 million people seek medical attention for car crash accident-related injuries each year.
For those who find themselves in need of medical attention after a car wreck, it’s important to take the right steps to protect their physical health and their ability to file a legal claim through a New York car accident lawyer. If you sustained injuries in a motor vehicle accident, here are some actions to take in the minutes, days, and months after that incident.
Safety First
Although people involved in car accidents often want to get out of their cars as soon as they stop moving, it’s important to assess your surroundings. Initial collisions are common causes of car accidents and pedestrian incidents. These “secondary crashes” might be more severe than the original incident. In secondary collisions, an initial car accident sparks another or several more incidents.
An approaching vehicle might not have time to stop or may fail to see the damaged vehicles in the road. The last thing you want to do is remove your seatbelt right before another vehicle collides with yours or exit your car and be struck as a pedestrian. Move cautiously and take a minute to assess your surroundings before you leave your car.
Check Your Injuries
In the immediate aftermath of a car accident, injury assessment must be one of the top priorities. If it appears that anyone sustained severe injuries in the accident, get them help right away.
However, remember that thanks to shock, adrenaline and other issues, you and other people who were traveling in the crashed car or cars might not feel your injuries until later. Conditions like whiplash, neck and back injuries, head and brain injuries, sprains, strains, contusions, or spine injuries, such as herniated discs, might appear in the hours or days following the accident. To avoid the consequences of an untreated injury, error on the side of caution. Additionally, seeing a doctor sooner rather than later can help preserve your legal claim.
Seek Medical Attention
If you or anyone else sustained injuries, make sure that medical personnel are on their way. Calling 911 is likely the best course of action in severe emergencies. In less serious crashes, you might be able to get to a facility on your own. The most important thing is not to wait too long. Even something as serious as internal bleeding might not be obvious to someone in shock. Visiting a doctor can help identify potential medical issues and give you and the others involved in the crash some piece of mind.
Call The Police (911)
In cases where those involved need prompt medical care or the vehicles are creating an emergency, call 911 for faster response times. However, even if a crash is less serious, you should reach out to the local police. A police report is an important form of documentation following a crash. The accident report will also often list information like witness information that could be critical for any future claim you choose to file.
Exchange Information
If you and the other party are safe to do so, make sure you exchange information with them. This should include insurance and contact information, and it’s best to see identification from the other party to make sure everything you collect is accurate and legitimate. The police can also help with this process if they are on the scene. You can later ask for a copy of their reports as well, which might fill in gaps in the information you collected.
Document the Scene
As long as the scene is safe to navigate, you should start evidence gathering and try to document what you can. Your documentation process should include photo evidence of the site, the involved vehicles, visible injuries, and anything else that might be relevant. When it comes to collecting evidence, the crash scene won’t be there again after the authorities clear the debris and vehicles. Take many photos to get the most complete documentation as this might come in handy with your insurance claim or legal case.
Inform Your Insurance Company
Your insurance company might have time limits or other requirements for reporting an accident. However, discussing your coverage with your lawyer might be a good move, for instance, you should find out if your no-fault car insurance coverage applies or if you can pursue compensation another way.
Once you understand your options, you may want to start the claims process, but remember to exercise caution when speaking to your insurance company or the insurance provider of another party. Insurers want to limit what they pay related to crashes, so saying something as innocent as “I’m okay,” might come back to hurt your financial recovery efforts.
Keep Records
From the time of the accident until you resolve a settlement negotiation or court proceedings, keep all of your records. If your doctor prescribes a treatment plan, schedules follow-up appointments, estimates a recovery timeline or takes any other actions to treat your accident-related injuries, save those documents. The rehabilitation process after a car wreck can take years. You can work with your personal injury attorney, to use your medical bills and future estimates as a part of a comprehensive compensation evaluation to determine your case’s worth.
Consider Legal Advice
Protecting yourself and pursuing compensation after a car accident can be overwhelming, confusing, and stressful. Seeking legal advice is a great way to preserve your rights and understand the true value of your claim. Your legal representation can help you negotiate with insurance providers and, if necessary, take your case to court.
To discuss your case with a compassionate, experienced attorney, reach out to Omni Injury and Accident Law, P.C. today.