What To Do Following an Automobile Accident

By Amar S. Weisman, Esquire

If you or your loved ones have been involved in an automobile accident, the first thing you should focus on is getting immediate medical attention. To the extent possible, you should consider doing the following things that can help your personal injury claim process proceed more smoothly:

1. Call the police. Do not hesitate to call the police immediately. When the police officer arrives on the reason, politely request that he or she complete an accident report. This document will contain valuable information about the driver and the other vehicle.
2. Call an attorney. If you might have a personal injury claim, you should not wait to retain an attorney. An attorney can help gather evidence, identify witnesses, take photographs, and deal with the other side’s tricky insurance adjustors (whose job is to gather evidence against you and get you to sign releases that only benefit their employer). As the litigation continues, your attorney will properly file your claim within the statute of limitations, respond to counterclaims and affirmative defenses, navigate the discovery process, negotiate with the other side, locate and retain expert witnesses, and, if the case has not yet settled, craft a winning trial strategy.
3. Write Down The Other Car's License Plate Number. Write down the other vehicle's license plate number, being sure to include that state where the other license plate was issued.
4. Take photographs. If you cannot locate an attorney immediately, you should photograph everything that might be helpful, including the vehicles involved, skid marks, lighting devices, signage, guard rails, etc. Do not use an instamatic camera because its quality will be inferior. Use a 35 mm or a digital camera instead. Consider taking notes to complement your photographs about why each photograph might be important.
5. Gather witness information. Witnesses often vanish into thin air. The more time that passes the more likely they will be unwilling to get involved and provide truthful information. Get their names, addresses, phone numbers, and any other identifying information--like a business card--as quickly as possible.
6. Get medical care. Even though many injuries take time to manifest themselves, you should probably see a doctor as soon as possible. When it comes to getting medical care, ask yourself whether you would take your children to the doctor under the same circumstances. When you see your doctor, tell him or her the nature and full extent of your injuries.

It is not advisable for you to communicate with representatives of the other party’s insurance company. Their job is to be nice and get you to make statements and admissions that will ultimately hurt your case and help the other side. Let your attorney deal with them.

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