The state of Georgia is home to some of the busiest and most dangerous interstates in the country. In 2020 alone, there were over 330,000 car accidents in Georgia. With these conditions, the likelihood that you will get into a car accident automatically increases. Car accidents can be stressful and terrifying so it is important to know ahead of time what to do if you end up in that situation. Keep reading for 5 steps to take after you get in a collision.
Call Authorities & Receive Medical Attention
If there are any injuries resulting from the car accident, call 911 immediately for medical attention. If there are not any injuries, call a non-emergency line for police to come to the scene. It’s important for police to come to file an accident report if you plan on filing an insurance claim for injuries or damages.
If you sustained injuries in the car accident, once paramedics arrive, make sure you are evaluated for your injuries. Also, be sure that any injuries are documented and treated.
You may not notice any injuries while you are at the scene but you should still seek medical attention as soon as you can. Injuries such as whiplash and concussions do not show up immediately but still need to be treated. Be sure that these injuries are also documented to show their relation to the car accident.
Know what documentation you need to collect
If you can, try to gather:
- Contact information of any witnesses
- Photos of where the accident happened
- Photos of the damage
- Photos of any injuries
- Details of when and where the accident happened
- What you remember about the accident in detail, such as what happened before, during, and after the accident. Try to document your memories as soon as you can while the memory is fresh in your mind.
Do Not Admit Fault
It’s common for someone involved in an accident to apologize to the other people involved, even if it wasn’t their fault. Prevent yourself from doing this because this can be viewed as admitting fault. You want to wait until all of the evidence is evaluated by the police and the insurance companies to see who they determine was at fault. If you admit fault, that can severely impact your opportunity to claim damages.
Contact Your Insurance Company
Insurance companies have deadlines for filing claims so you need to report & notify them as soon as you can. Before contacting them, make sure you have gathered all the information you can about the accident because the more information you have, the easier it will be to file a claim. Providing all of this information to your insurance company will allow them to determine the cause and fault of the accident.
Hire A Personal Injury Lawyer
Whether the accident was just a fender bender or your car was completely totaled, it’s smart to contact a lawyer before talking to insurance companies or accepting settlement offers. Having a personal injury lawyer on your side can make the process of recovering damages much easier so you can focus on recovering.
If you have recently experienced a car accident, our attorneys at Hasty Pope Trial Lawyers are happy to help. Our experienced lawyers will be able to help you navigate insurance claims and represent you to get the fair compensation you deserve. Schedule a free consultation today to get started.
Sources:
https://gdot.numetric.net/crash-data#/
https://www.forpeopleforjustice.com/five-steps-to-take-immediately-after-an-auto-accident/
https://www.legalscoops.com/5-steps-to-take-after-a-vehicle-collision/