Car Accident Lawyer

Most Americans rely on their cars, trucks, or SUVs for all aspects of life. Traveling to and from work, running the kids to school, buying groceries, traveling for a vacation or work – the list of reasons we drive is extensive. Given the amount of time that is spent in your vehicle on a yearly basis, an accident is inevitable at some point in life, in fact there are over 5 million car accidents per year in the US alone, many of which are unavoidable or not our fault.

As an experienced car accident lawyer can explain that if you’re ever involved in a serious accident, where serious damage or injury it is important to know what to do in the moments following it. By being well informed about what to do, before being in an accident, drivers can make an unfortunate event more manageable and also protect their rights for legal recourse.

Assuming that the driver is conscious and able, these are steps to take after an accident happens.

Contact emergency assistance.

Immediately after being in an accident find a way to call 911 either on your phone or on the phone of a witness if you are unable to find or use yours. Although it may be difficult depending on your condition, do your best to answer questions asked by 911 dispatch operators and await further instruction.

Documentation.

Given that the scene is safe and you are able, calmly meet with the others involved and attempt to obtain insurance documentation. Also, if possible, take pictures of the accident scene on your smartphone. Having these forms of documentation may serve as vital pieces of evidence if you choose to take legal action.

Minimize communication with those involved.

After obtaining insurance and contact information from others that were involved, limit all communication and interactions with them. You can endanger your rights by saying the wrong thing to others that are involved. For example, claiming your own fault, without knowing with positivity that it was indeed your fault.

Document the accident scene.

Drivers that are involved in an accident may benefit from having pictures of the crash scene. Given that road conditions are safe enough, capture pictures from multiple angles. These photos may aid in describing how the accident happened to your lawyer and to law enforcement on-scene. Additionally, pictures are an invaluable resource for investigative purposes.

Request a police report.

As soon as possible after the accident, be sure to request a complete copy of the report from the officers who investigated the accident scene. Keep this report for your records, it may be examined by your lawyer if you chose to take legal action.

Post-accident medical examination.

Even if you feel fine after an accident and feel no need to receive immediate or emergency medical attention, it is recommended that you see a doctor for a post accident exam. Certain pains and injuries may also become evident hours or days after the accident and must be documented for use in your claim if you choose to take legal action.

Keep accident and injury documentation organized.

After being in any accident you will benefit from keeping all associated documents in a folder or binder so they are easily accessible when needed. Having everything organized will be beneficial for further investigations and the process of filing insurance claims.

Contact a Car Accident Lawyer

Contact Davis & Johnson Law Office which specializes in car accident and/or personal injury claims to schedule a consultation. Even if you feel there is no reason to, consulting with a car accident lawyer will help you make a well-informed decision about how to proceed and will help you better understand what your potential options for legal action are.