What to Do After a Car Accident

It’s finally morning! You roll out of bed, put on your slippers, and grab a mug of coffee. You’re all ready to tackle the day—until, suddenly, you can’t.

When you get into an accident, it’s not just your car that gets messed up; it’s your whole life. The routine that you’ve been following for years has been interrupted by something unplanned, and now you’re left trying to figure out what to do next. It’s not always obvious how to proceed in these situations; we’ve all heard horror stories about insurance companies and each other’s driving habits and all kinds of things that make us feel powerless.

That’s why we wrote this blog post for you. We want to make sure that you know what steps to take after a car collision so that you can recover as quickly as possible.

1) Check Yourself for Injuries:

After a car wreck, check yourself for injuries. If you are injured, seek medical attention immediately. Do not refuse transportation to the hospital in an ambulance if it is offered to you. If you do not feel like there is an immediate need to go to the hospital, consider going anyway just to be sure that you have not sustained any injuries that might manifest themselves soon. After all, adrenaline can mask the pain of serious injuries.

2) Check on the Well-Being of Your Passengers:

After you have been in a car accident and are sure that you are physically capable of doing so, check on the well-being of your passengers. Assess the situation, but don’t forget to take care of yourself. If you are physically injured, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

If your passengers are physically injured, call 911 immediately. Get them away from the car if it is safe to do so and wait for emergency personnel to arrive. You may be able to reassure them or keep them calm until help arrives. If any of your passengers are young children or infants, do not move them unless it is necessary. Moving children can worsen injuries that aren’t immediately apparent; for example, shaking a baby may cause spinal injury.

3) Seek Medical Attention:

Even if you do not feel injured after a car accident, it is still important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Many people feel fine after an accident, only to suffer from serious injuries later. Other types of injuries do not appear until several weeks after the car crash occurs.

According to experts, it is important to seek medical help immediately after an accident because your adrenaline levels are high right after the crash. As a result of these higher adrenaline levels, you may not feel pain or realize that something is wrong until hours or days have passed since the actual collision occurred.

4) Document the Accident:

If you are in a car accident, whether it is a fender bender or a crash where someone is injured or killed, you may be required to provide an accident report. These reports can be used by the police and insurance companies to determine fault and who is responsible for injuries and damages. You will want to document as much information as possible. Be sure to take photographs of any damage done to your vehicle and any injuries suffered by you or your passengers.

 

5) Consult with an Accident Attorney

Whether you think you need one or not, it might be wise to consult with an experienced accident attorney such as Simi Valley accident attorney Greg Owen. Most personal injury accident law firms offer a free consultation to determine if your case has potential merit. Your insurance company is not your friend and will try and pay the least they can for a claim. An accident attorney can make sure you get what you deserve.