People get into car accidents every single day, and for most people it is their first time. This may be a scary situation and most people are not able to think very clearly after an accident. There are certain things you should make sure are done after an auto accident to make sure you get the best possible results from a horrible situation.
- Do not flee the scene. There is no situation out there, where fleeing the scene of an accident will be beneficial for you or anyone involved. It will only cause more confusion and possibly hurt your chances of recovery from either insurance company.
- Make sure everyone is okay. This is probably most important, as everyone involved should make sure they are okay and not injured.
- Call the police. Regardless of injuries, the police should always be called to make an official report. This will provide security for you that the incident is documented and makes sure you are protected from anyone lying about what happened. Tell the entire truth to the police, so they can get the report accurate.
- Get a copy of the police report. It is important to get a copy of the police report or at least the report #, so you can have that accessible to you for the insurance companies or an attorney if you hire one.
- Assess damage to vehicles. Taking pictures is a great way to make sure you have everything documented along with the police report. Take pictures of your vehicle and any injuries that you have right after the accident, if possible.
- Exchange Information. Make sure to get everyone’s information who was involved including passengers if possible. If you can get the other drivers information from a license and their insurance information, this will be best to ensure it is correct.
- Share your Information. An accident typically involves two parties, so make sure you share your name and insurance to the other driver while you gather theirs. Waiting for Police to show up first is perfectly fine.
- Get seen by a medical professional. If you are injured in any way, its important to get treatment. Whether an EMT, urgent care, ER, or primary care doctor, its important to see them as soon as possible after an accident to document what injuries were sustained from the accident.
- Speak to a lawyer. Lawyers offer free consultations all of the time to see if you can receive compensation for your accident. It is important to reach out to a car accident lawyer Kansas City, MO, like from Royce Injury Attorneys, as soon as possible. They can help you understand if you are eligible for compensation at no cost.
- Make an Insurance Claim. By now you have spoken to an attorney, have a copy of the police report, know who is at fault for the accident, and been treated for your injuries. If you hired an attorney, they will most likely handle this for you. If you decide to do this on your own, it is a good idea to have all of the information together including medical bills, lost wages, police report, and all info about hospital visits. Then you can correctly file a claim with all of the necessary info.