A first-time car accident can be a frightening and stressful experience, especially if injuries are involved. However, failure to take adequate actions immediately after an accident can leave you having to pay for medical costs and property damage out of your own pocket. By taking the proper steps to address injuries and substantial damage, as well as document the scene itself, you will be able to recover your entitled financial compensation, even if it has to come down to trial.
The proper steps to take immediately after a car accident include the following:
- Stay calm and take deep breaths. You must maintain composure in order to. Panicking can result in having less time to document the accident.
- Seek medical attention, if necessary. If you or your passengers are hurt, request an ambulance right away.
- Contact law enforcement. Call the police, since they are capable of filing an accident report which you could obtain upon request if you are not in a condition to document the accident on your own. Only disclose pertinent facts and don’t volunteer more information than necessary.
- Report the accident to your insurance company. However, do not apologize or admit fault. Any admission of wrongdoing on your part could be used against you in your pursuit of compensation.
- Take photographs of the scene. If you didn’t suffer any significant injuries or don’t require emergency medical attention, you can start taking pictures of the accident scene (camera or smartphone). Take photos of the damage to your vehicle and the other driver’s, visible injuries, skid marks, debris on the road, and even the street itself.
- Obtain other driver’s information. Get their contact information, insurance policy number, and license plate number.
- Gather contact information from witnesses. Ask kindly if the witnesses of the accident are willing to provide their contact information.
- Contact an attorney. Lastly, seek legal assistance from a Dallas personal injury attorney in order to begin building your car accident case by conducting a thorough investigation and speaking with witnesses so that you can focus on recovery.
If you have suffered an injury after being involved in a car accident in Dallas, contact Mathias Raphael PLLC Accident & Injury Lawyers and request a free consultation today.