If you have been in a car accident, there are certain things you must do to ensure that you and everyone inside the car are safe. While calling up your local auto accident lawyers is a good idea as soon as possible, there are other steps you need to take to ensure that everything is in order. Here’s a checklist to help you.
- Do You Have Any Injuries?
The very first thing you need to do is to check yourself and see whether you have any injuries. The best way to do so is to call up 911. If you know that you have been seriously injured, let someone else make the 911 call and wait for emergency personnel to arrive.
- Are All Passengers Safe?
The next thing you must do is to find out whether all your passengers are safe. Do any of them have injuries? Are the injuries minor or major? Whatever the answer to that may be, it is best to call 911 to ensure that the bodily injuries caused are dealt with by professionals who know what they are doing.
- Be In A Safe Location
It is extremely important to move to the side of the road so that other cars and vehicles driving on the road do not cause further damage. It will also make waiting easier for you and your passengers. If it is possible, drive the car to the side of the road. If the car has been damaged and you can’t possibly move it, leave it and make sure you and other passengers move to a location that is safe while you wait for emergency personnel.
- Call An Auto Accident Lawyer
The next thing on your checklist must be to call a specialist auto accident lawyer. Make sure that the lawyer you contact is local so that he or she can reach you as early as possible. You need this because a lawyer will be able to collect all the evidence required for your case. Whether you go to trial or file a lawsuit and wait for the other party to settle, you need clear evidence and only a lawyer can make sure you have that in plenty.
Calling in an expert car accident lawyer will also mean that you get the compensation you deserve from your insurance company.
- Collect Documentation If possible
If you are in a physical state where you can collect documentation, then go ahead and do it. When the police arrive, get the names and badge numbers of all the officers who are on the scene. Make sure that you take pictures of the accident scene. You should also take down the names and contact details of the other party if that is possible.
Otherwise, it is best to let your lawyer do the talking and collect all of the evidence.
The sooner you get the things on the checklist done, the sooner you will be able to go home and deal with the aftermath of the car accident.
