Do You Know What to Do If You Are In An Accident?

by PATRICIA WOLOCH

It��s hard to keep level head in a car accident, but the actions that you take immediately after a crash and in the days and weeks to come can change your life. In the first few moments after an accident your actions can mean the difference between life and death.

After the crisis has subsided, the choices that you make and the things that you do, or fail to do, can make the difference between a life of disability and pain or getting on the road to full recovery. They can also make or break your ability to recover financially, to pay your medical bills, and to move forward with your life.

On the scene
?If you can move your vehicle, get it out of the flow of traffic to prevent compounding the accident with further collisions.
?Get yourself and everyone else out of traffic and into a safe location. Even people who are up and walking around may be in shock or confused and wandering around in the road.
?Check for injured parties. Do not move an injured person unless it is necessary to prevent them from being injured further.
?Contact law enforcement, even if no one is hurt. Failure to do so can land you in jail! If someone is hurt, request an ambulance. It is not necessary to make separate calls to law enforcement and for medical help.
?Get contact information from everyone involved:
oOther drivers
oPassengers
oWitnesses
Information you should write down includes:
oNames
oAddresses
oPhone numbers
oDriver��s license numbers
oInsurance carriers
oLicense plate numbers of every vehicle
oYear, make, model, and color of every vehicle
?Take pictures of everything:
oVehicles involved
oSurrounding area
oInjuries
oSkid marks
oPotholes, obstacles, obscured road signs, or anything else that might have contributed to the crash
Even if you don��t have a camera, chances are someone present has a cell phone that can be used to take pictures.
?Do not admit fault. There may be circumstances involved that you are not aware of at the time of the accident.
?Do not discuss the accident with anyone other than law enforcement.

When you leave the scene
?Seek immediate medical attention, even if you don��t think you have been injured. You may be in shock and have injuries that you are not aware of.
?Write down everything that you can remember as soon as possible, before the details start to fade. If you are waiting in the emergency room, do it there.
?Contact an experienced auto accident attorney. You will be dealing with insurance companies and possibly law enforcement. Even if you feel certain that you were not to blame, you will still have to prove it.
?Report the accident to your insurance company.
?Do not sign anything without the approval of your attorney. In the days and weeks after an accident you may be approached by your insurance company, the insurance companies of other people involved in the accident, or their representatives. They will try to take advantage of you. Even if they offer you money, don��t sign anything, it probably means that they know they owe you a lot more, and you will be signing away your rights!

If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident contact an experienced motor vehicle accident attorney today.