What Should I Do If I’m Injured in an Accident Caused by Another Driver?

An accident is always a traumatic time, and if you know what to do before an accident happens, it will help enormously. You’ll be able to take the right steps to protect your rights and ensure that you can get the compensation you need. An accident attorney in Lawrenceville, GA should be one of your first calls.

What Should I Do If I’m Injured in an Accident Caused by Another Driver?

1. Call 911 If Necessary

Always think first about the medical needs of everyone involved, before you start thinking about who’s responsible and what compensation you might be able to get. If anyone has been badly hurt, call 911 immediately.

2. Call the Police

If there are no injuries bad enough to warrant calling 911, call the police directly and report the accident. They may or may not send someone to the scene of the accident, and if they don’t, you’ll need to make a report later. If they do, the police may make a preliminary determination of fault there at the scene and will collect all the information about everyone involved. All of this will be helpful if you need to bring a case for compensation.

3. Exchange Information 

Exchange information with the other driver. This should include your names, insurance information, and car registration information. If the other driver is overly angry and agitated, wait for the police to arrive before approaching them.

4. Get What Evidence You Can

If you’re not too badly injured, think about gathering evidence. Helpful evidence will include photographs of the accident scene, and you should be sure to take both close-up shots and also distance shots to capture everything. Make sure that your photographs include the make and model of each vehicle as well as the damage to them and any road marks. 

Get the name and contact information of any witnesses who saw the accident, and if you notice any cameras in the area, such as security cameras on a building nearby, note the location so you can inform your lawyer. Your lawyer may be able to get that footage.

5. Get Medical Help

Even if you’re not so badly injured that you have to call 911 immediately, you should get checked out as soon as possible after you leave the scene. You may have injuries you’re not aware of yet because of adrenaline, and some injuries don’t really manifest with symptoms until a few hours after you suffer them. You need to see a doctor immediately so you can establish a clear link between any injuries and the accident. If you delay too long, the other side may argue that your injuries were caused by something else.

6. Contact an Accident Attorney in Lawrenceville, GA

If someone else was responsible for the accident, it’s always wise to contact an accident attorney quickly. Your attorney can help you in negotiating and communicating with insurance companies and will gather evidence and use it to prove what happened and what you’ve lost.

If you’ve been in an accident, contact us now at Spaulding Injury Law in Lawrenceville, Cumming, Alpharetta, and Atlanta, GA for help.

Tags: Car Accidents, Legal Insights
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