The Dos and Don’ts in the Aftermath of a Car Accident

The sound of the screeching tires, the banging metal, and then dead silence. It can all happen in just a matter of seconds, yet the side effects can last for many years to come. Your actions in the immediate aftermath of a car accident can significantly affect how the situation unfolds. Here is what you should and shouldn’t do: 

Call 911

If you’re in a position to do so, dial 911 on your phone and report the accident. Most of the time, law enforcement will arrive together with the EMTs for on-site first aid. 

The attending police officer will probably question you and any other involved persons about the incident. Be sure to furnish them with a detailed account of your recollection because your account will go into the police report, a crucial piece of evidence for your claim. 

Remain at the Accident Scene

Leaving the scene of a car accident before law enforcement arrives is an offense in some jurisdictions. Whether or not the crash was your fault, you should remain at the site until when you’re cleared to leave. 

Avoid Accepting Fault

Remember, establishing fault in the event of a car crash is a task best left to the experts. Hence, refrain from apologizing if you feel guilty or calling out the other driver when you believe they’re at fault. Doing so may only aggravate the situation. 

Instead, politely approach the other vehicle and its occupants and ask for their contact and insurance information. 

Seek Medical Attention

Your body’s reaction to the accident is producing adrenaline, which may mask the immediate physical injuries and give you a false sense of wellbeing. At the same time, some injuries like whiplash don’t always reveal immediately. Therefore, it’s important to seek prompt medical care after a crash, even when you feel fine.

Medical treatment also generates documentation that you can use as crucial evidence for your car accident claim. This includes doctor appointment notes, receipts, prescriptions, X-rays, and even lab reports, among others. 

Collect Evidence

Take some photographs of the damages and obtain a few witness statements from those around you to the best of your ability. The evidence you collect immediately after the crash can have a significant impact on the trajectory of your claim because it is still “fresh.”

Avoid Posting on Social Media 

While the urge to update your social media following your recent car accident and your health status can be compelling, best practice dictates that you resist it and take a social media hiatus, at least until when your claim is expedited. 

The defense team can use even the most innocent of social media posts to poke holes in your case and undermine it.

Consider the case of an injured victim who suffers whiplash injuries after a rear-end accident. Celebrating their recovery journey, this individual goes out with friends and posts the images on Instagram. If the defense team stumbles upon these posts, they may undermine the severity of the injuries, claiming the plaintiff could still manage to go out. 

Call the Insurance Company

The general rule is to report any car accidents to your insurance within the first 24 hours, depending on whether you have your wits about you. It’s important to furnish the adjudicators with all details concerning the crash. 

Consult an Experienced Auto Accident Attorney

Finally, consult with a skilled personal injury attorney for counsel on how to handle your claim. These professionals went to law school to study these cases and have probably handled many similar claims, depending on their experience. 

Better still, experienced attorneys have a network of professionals they can rely on for different aspects of your claim, including law enforcement, medical practitioners, and even forensic scientists, says personal injury attorney Charles W. Whetstone, Jr. of Whetstone Perkins & Fulda.