The period that follows a car crash can be confusing and challenging if you don’t have someone to guide you. Pain, stress and frustration happen when you are in an accident. The decisions you make thereafter are crucial to the compensation process.
When you are involved in an accident in Woodbridge, we suggest you follow the following steps.
Get Medical Assistance
If the car accident resulted in bodily injury, seek medical assistance immediately. You might feel fine, but some injuries manifest a few days or weeks. You need immediate medical assistance to evaluate your injuries and start treatment.
When you don’t have an idea of who to call, talk to a Woodbridge, CT personal injury attorney to refer you to a qualified doctor. However, it is normal for emergency response services to come to the accident scene fast, which means you will get medical attention.
However, the emergency response team might not be able to diagnose some injuries such as concussions, so you need to get a qualified doctor to evaluate them.
Call the Police
While your car might not be extensively damaged and you feel fine enough to drive off, it is still vital that you call 911 for the police help secure the scene and come up with a police report that can help you prove your innocence.
The police report gives an unbiased documentation of the incident and can be invaluable in settling the claim.
Exchange Information
As you wait for the police to arrive, make sure you collect some pieces of information from people that are at the scene:
· Get the name, phone number, and driver’s license number of the driver you think caused the accident.
· Write down the license plate number, registration number and vehicle identification number of the cars that have been involved in the accident.
· Get insurance information from the drivers involved.
· Note down eyewitness accounts and write down their phone numbers so that you can contact them later.
Keep this information safe because you will need it at a later date.
Take Photos and Videos
Nowadays, nearly everyone has a smartphone or a phone that can take pictures. The quality of images has improved greatly, and you can now take images and videos on the fly.
It is crucial that you take photos of the damage to the vehicles involved before they get towed away. Additionally, take a photo of the scene showing the condition of the road as well as the traffic lights as well.
You also need to take photos of your injuries, including bruises and cuts. If you can’t take the pictures yourself, tell someone close to you to do it for you.
Seek Professional Medical Attention
Not all the injuries you sustain are obvious physically. At times, the pain from the injuries manifests a few days later. You need to visit a professional doctor to perform various tests to ensure all injuries are evaluated and ruled out.
We have seen victims that left the scene of the accident fully fine only to succumb to internal injuries a few days later. Additionally, the visit to the doctor helps you get a medical report that can corroborate your claim. The lawyer uses the report to determine the settlement you are entitled to.
Get Expert Legal Advice
Before you make any statement, try and speak with an experienced Woodbridge, CT personal injury attorney to help you make decisions. Remember that anything you say or do at this point can be used against you by the insurer during the claim process. Call today to get all your questions answered.
