Five Things to do After a Car Accident

1. Stop and Check for Injuries: Make sure all occupants of the car are OK and no one is injured. Do not drive away from the scene of the accident, even if it is a minor accident. Life and health come first. If someone is injured, call 911 immediately.

2. Call the Police: Call the police even if the accident and injuries are minor. It is important to have a correct and official police report on file in order to make a claim with your insurance carrier or the negligent parties’ carrier.

3. Create an Accurate Record: When the police arrive, make sure to tell them the truth about what happened. If you do not remember what happened, do not be afraid to say so. If the police officer asks if you are injured and you are not certain, say you are not sure rather than no. Most often pain and injuries as a result of an auto accident occur hours if not days after the accident.

4. Preserve the Evidence: Information is vital to protecting your legal interests and for preserving any claims arising from the car accident. Make sure to write down the names of all people involved in the accident, their phone numbers, address, license plate numbers, driver’s license numbers and auto insurance information. A good witness statement can most of the time turn a bad claim into a good claim. If you have a camera phone or camera, take many pictures of the scene, the cars involved in the auto accident and any and all visible injuries.

5. Pursue Medical Attention and Treatment: If you are injured as a result of a car accident, seek immediate care with a medical professional. More often than not, injuries caused by a car accident are not immediately apparent. Even if you think you are not injured or you have minor discomfort, seek medical attention at a local hospital or with a family doctor. An accident with minor impact can still cause serious and permanent injuries to your body.