If you’ve ever been in a car accident, then you know how stressful it can be. It makes the most sense to contact the police, the insurance company, and a car accident lawyer in Naperville IL. Carlson Bier Associates are here to help you if you need legal assistance. Contact us today at 312-622-2900 for a consultation.
We’re not going to sugarcoat it: getting into an accident is stressful. However, knowing what to do after the fact can help keep your stress levels down. If you’ve ever worried about being sued for causing an accident or having someone else sue you for causing theirs, we’re here to tell you that there are plenty of legal protections in place that make sure car accidents don’t ruin your life forever.
1. Contact the police and check yourself and others for injuries
If you are in an accident, it is important to call 911 immediately. If someone has been injured and needs medical attention, call 911 before attending to them. As soon as you’ve done that, tell the operator that you need an ambulance or a ride to the hospital; they’ll know what they can do for you and how best to help. If it’s at all possible, ask if they can send an ambulance (or tow truck) out immediately so that you don’t have to wait too long before getting medical care.
Even if there are no injuries, do not drive away from the scene of an accident without first calling for help, this can result in serious legal consequences.
If you are hurt, seek medical attention immediately. If you’re able to get out of the vehicle and check on your passengers, do so. If anyone is hurt or bleeding, you can try to help them, but it may be best not to move them. If you need to move them out of the wreck and are able to, do so cautiously.
2. Move your car to a safe location, if possible
If you are able to move your car, do so. This should be a no-brainer, but we know it’s not always possible to do this after an accident. If you cannot move your vehicle at all, stay calm and wait for help. You may want to get out of the car and stand behind it in case someone else comes along who can assist with moving the car out of traffic or on the side of the road.
If possible, turn on hazard lights while waiting for assistance—this will make other drivers aware that there has been an accident ahead and they should proceed cautiously through this area until they can see that everything is okay again.
3. Get information from anyone else involved
Get information from anyone else involved in the accident, including names, addresses, phone numbers, driver’s license numbers, license plate numbers, insurance company names and policy numbers, and vehicle identification number (VIN) for each car involved. If you’re not sure what some of these things are or how to get them, just ask your insurance agent how to do this.
This information is important for the police and insurance companies. It will also help your car accident lawyer in Naperville IL do their own investigation and ensure they have all the information to pursue your personal injury claim.
4. Talk to witnesses and get contact information
If you were involved in a car accident, it’s important to talk to witnesses as soon as possible. The more information you have about what happened, the better able you’ll be to take care of yourself after the crash. Get contact information from all witnesses who saw your accident. If they have photos or videos of the incident, ask if they’ll share them with you.
You may also want to confirm that these people are willing and able to testify under oath about what happened. Pass the witness information along to your car accident lawyer in Naperville IL as well. This will help them make sure they have all the information regarding your case.
5. Do NOT make any statements about who was at fault
Do NOT make any statements about who was at fault or take blame for being at fault for causing the accident. You are not required to talk with anyone, including insurance companies and police officers, so do not answer any questions from them.
This can be very difficult in the aftermath of a car accident when everyone else is talking and you want to explain your side of things, but if you are ever asked to give a recorded statement by an insurance company or police officer, politely decline. The only time it is appropriate to speak with someone other than your car accident lawyer in Naperville IL after an accident is if someone has been injured and needs medical attention.
6. Contact a car accident lawyer in Naperville IL to pursue your personal injury claim
When you’ve been involved in a car accident, make sure you take the proper steps. When you do so, you will be protected. If you’ve been injured in an accident, our car accident lawyer in Naperville IL will help you with your personal injury claim. We will pursue fair compensation and justice for you and your family. Contact Carlson Bier Associates today for a consultation.