Important Steps to Take After an Auto Accident
According to the government, each year about one in nine people are in a car accident. Most accidents are minor, but some are serious and result in long-term injuries and large monetary losses for the victim. Here are several steps to take if involved in a car accident:
1. Exchange all information with the other driver (name; address; phone numbers; driver’s license number; insurance company and policy number; the other car’s make, model, year, license number and vehicle id number).
2. Get the name, address and phone number of all witnesses. Witnesses can make or break an injury case, especially when there isn’t a police report. Also, if you are both solo drivers, then it is going to be a “he said, she said” situation and most people who are at fault usually lie once they start talking to the insurance company.
3. Make notes and a diagram of what happened. Write down the road and weather conditions as well as where and when the accident happened.
4. Don’t take blame, whether at the scene or after, even if you think you caused the accident. Emotions affect you at an accident, and the sense of being at fault may be wrong. Also, things you didn’t know or see may mean the other driver caused the accident or was partly to blame. Never admit fault, at least not before consulting your lawyer. Remember that anything you say can be used against you later.
5. Take photos of the accident scene and cars. It’s also good to photograph your injuries. With the advent of iPhones and other smart phones, it is very easy to photograph everything at the scene — including paperwork. Audio record your conversations at the scene with other parties and video record the entire landscape.
6. Get legal help. Your lawyer will advise you about notifying other parties, your rights and duties, and how much money you may be entitled to receive. Call promptly, as the time right after the accident can be vital to your claim. Notify your insurance company — but consult your lawyer before giving a statement to your insurer or filling out the company’s documents. Don’t sign a “release” or accept a settlement before consulting your lawyer. Once you accept a settlement, you usually can’t recover more money.
7. If you feel pain after an accident, or at any point you have lost consciousness, you should ask to be taken to the hospital via ambulance. Our lives are too precious to not take the proper steps of care because we are afraid of an ambulance or emergency room bill. Once your injuries are considered not life-threatening, go see a doctor who is a specialist in serious whiplash and soft-tissue injuries. Such a specialist will ensure you get the proper MRIs to correctly diagnosis your condition. Proper treatment can break up scar tissue so that car accident aches and pains don’t have to last a lifetime.
No one wants to be in a car accident. But unfortunately most of us will be in one at some time in our lives. The key is to follow these steps to regain your complete health and create a good record of what happened to help you receive the maximum compensation and move on with your life — pain-free.
Dr. Nathan Morello, D.C. has been a chiropractor since 2003, and a massage therapist since 1994. His company, Morello Family Chiropractic, has been helping injured drivers, workers and athletes since 2006. Dr. Morello was born and raised in Pacifica; he may be contacted at 650-225-9900, by e-mail at drmorello@ gmail.com, or through his Web site, www.morellofamilychiro.com.
