Been in a car accident? Don’t forget to do these things

You’ve been in an accident. It wasn’t your fault. Your car is strewn across the road and you’re in shock. It’s every driver’s worst nightmare, but knowing what to do in the aftermath of a car accident means you’ll probably handle the situation better, and be in a much stronger position going forward – call these car accident lawyers from the Savannah area if you’ve been in an accident. 

Adrenaline pumping, that burning sensation, tears in your eyes, anger, frustration…your emotions are going to be all over the place and difficult to control. However, focusing on the points below and what to do if you’ve been in a car accident will guide you through this life-changing event.

Make sure you’re not hurt

If you or any of your passengers are injured then you need to call the emergency services straight away. Anyone complaining of back, neck or leg injuries shouldn’t be moved unless they’re in immediate danger. If possible, exit the vehicle and move away from the scene to avoid putting yourself in more danger.

Call the police

Never let the other driver convince you not to call the police, or deal with the incident between yourselves. It’s a legal requirement for the police to attend a crash. When the police arrive speak to them calmly and give your version of events. Don’t paraphrase or guess what you think happened. After taking statements, the police will create a report which will detail what they believe occurred. This document will be vital in your personal injury case and insurance claim.

Speak with the other driver

The other driver may be apologetic, they may be defiant, they may be angry at you and believe you were to blame. As difficult as these scenarios and emotions are to digest, try to keep calm and get their information. Contact details and insurance information are vital. 

Don’t admit fault

Emotions will be running high, so you must limit contact with the other driver as much as possible. They may pressure or guilt you into admitting fault, something which could seriously jeopardize your personal injury or insurance claim. Keep conversation to a minimum and try to remain calm, even if they’re accusing you of causing the crash.

Gather evidence from the crash site

Evidence will help prove that you weren’t at fault. So, without getting in the way of the police investigation you need to be proactive at the scene. If you’re injured, then ask someone to collect the following for you:

• Photographs of the crash site
• Damage to both vehicles (this will prevent any outlandish damage claims from being filed)
• Road conditions 
• The positioning of the vehicles 
• Names and contact details of any witnesses who saw the crash
• If any other vehicles have potential dashcam footage, speak with other motorists to obtain it for future reference

Remember, crash sites are often cleaned up very quickly so returning to a crash site later to gather evidence probably won’t be possible.

And finally…

If you’ve been in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, reach out to a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.