What Should I Do After a Serious Car Accident?

Posted on: August 18, 2022

A car accident can leave you with vehicle repairs, excessive medical bills, and possibly even a life that is altered forever. Even minor car accidents can leave people with thousands of dollars in car repair costs and just as much, if not more, in medical expenses.

Knowing what to do after a car accident can increase your chance of getting compensation to help you cover these expenses. The more serious your car accident, the more likely you are to have serious injuries requiring ongoing and costly medical care.

Call 911

The first step you should do after being in a serious car accident is call 911. Making this call will send emergency medical personnel to your accident scene. They will evaluate you to make sure you do not have any serious injuries requiring a hospital. If they do find more serious injuries, be prepared to go to the hospital for further care. This is vital to ensuring that you get the medical attention you need to recover.

Calling 911 will also send the police to your accident scene. The police will speak with you, your passengers, the other driver, and any witnesses. They will take all of this information and compile it into an official police accident report. While this report may not assign fault, it will help document your accident. This can prove invaluable if the other driver denies fault or tries to say you contributed to the accident.

Take Pictures and Videos

Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may not be able to take this step. Ask a trusted friend or family member to help you if you are unable to take pictures or videos.

Make sure you document the entire accident scene with pictures and videos. Getting images of your injuries and all vehicle damage will be good, too. Also, take pictures and videos of anything else that seems important, such as weather conditions. This evidence can help show the other driver caused your accident.

Speak With Witnesses

The police will speak with witnesses to get a better idea of what caused your accident. However, not all witnesses will wait around to speak with the police. Therefore, you should at least get each witness’s phone number so your legal team can speak with them at a later time.

A witness can provide crucial information about your accident. They often have a different perspective and can provide insight into the seconds leading up to your crash. This information can help to prove the other driver was at fault.

See a Doctor

Even if you received emergency medical care at the accident scene or were later taken to the hospital for further treatment, you should still see your primary doctor as soon as possible. No one knows your health better than your physician. They can hear your concerns about your injuries and compare your health to what it was before the accident. This can show the level of impact your injuries will have on the rest of your life.

Your doctor will also be able to help you chart a path for recovery by keeping detailed records about your progress and setbacks. Your doctor’s records will detail your injuries and what it will take for you to recover. This evidence will be important to help show the severity of your injuries and how they impact your life.

Keep a Personal Injury Journal

Keeping copies of your medical records is important, as it can show the level of suffering you have had to endure because of the accident. However, keeping a journal and describing your pain, anxiety, and reduced quality of life in your own words is also important.

Over time, you will likely forget every hurdle and setback you faced during your recovery process. These items are important to show that you deserve compensation from the negligent driver. By writing in your journal every day, you ensure that you do not forget any details about your pain. You will describe the truth about how someone else’s negligence has severely impacted your life. Your journal can help to paint an accurate picture of how your car accident injuries have changed your life, even temporarily.

Call a Car Accident Lawyer

When you get injured in a car accident, the last thing on your mind is to call a lawyer. However, with everything you are facing, having a legal advocate is critical. With the right lawyer on your side, you can focus on your health and recovery.

Your lawyer can investigate your car accident, working with accident reconstruction experts to locate the precise cause of your crash. This is crucial to ensuring that you file a personal injury claim against the right party, the one who caused your car accident and subsequent injuries. While your lawyer takes on the legal burden of collecting evidence and proving that someone else caused your accident, you can put your effort into what really matters: getting better.

Monmouth County Car Accident Lawyers at Mikita & Roccanova Can Help You Get Back on Your Feet After a Serious Collision

Getting into a serious car accident can impact your life forever. After you make sure you are okay, you should speak with trusted legal counsel. Contact one of our experienced Monmouth County car accident lawyers at Mikita & Roccanova today to learn about your rights. Call us at 732-705-3363 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Located in Hazlet and Highland Park, New Jersey, we serve clients in Ocean County, Sussex County, Neptune, Middlesex County, and Pennsylvania.