The aftermath of a vehicle accident can be incredibly chaotic. However, it is crucial for any person involved in a vehicle accident to take immediate steps so that they can preserve their ability to secure maximum compensation for their losses. We understand that you may not be able to take all of the steps we mentioned here in this exact order. However, the more items you can check off of this list, the better the chance that you will be able to recover the compensation needed to help with your medical bills, lost wages, and property damage expenses.
Call 911
You need to call 911 after a vehicle accident occurs in Michigan. In fact, the law in this state mandates that nearly every vehicle accident be reported based on injuries or property damage limits. Do not assume somebody else is called the police. If you have a phone, call 911 and let them know where the incident is. Let the police come and conduct a preliminary investigation so they can provide an accident report that you can give to your insurance carrier.
Check for Injuries
Your number one priority has to be your well-being after a vehicle accident. Check yourself, your passengers, and anyone else in the vicinity for injuries. Report any injuries to the 911 dispatcher when you call. You need to seek medical care as soon as possible after the vehicle accident occurs, even if you do not feel much pain. The signs and symptoms of some crash injuries are not apparent right away, such as spinal cord injuries. Going to a doctor helps ensure your well-being and also helps establish a direct link between the crash and any personal injuries that may arise. Do this with the help of one of our skilled Southfield personal injury lawyers.
Gather Evidence if You Can
If you can safely do so at the scene of a crash, you should begin gathering as much evidence as possible. Typically, we encourage all crash victims to use a cell phone or another type of camera to take photographs of everything that they see. This includes damage to the vehicles, injuries, debris, skid marks, traffic and weather conditions, and more. If there were any eyewitnesses in the vicinity, including bystanders or other passengers and drivers, you need to get their names and contact information as soon as possible.
Finally, you need to get the name, driver’s license information, and insurance information of any other drivers involved in the collision.
Call Your Attorney
You need to consider speaking to a skilled Southfield car accident lawyer as soon as possible. These cases can become incredibly complicated, particularly when it comes to determining liability. When you have an attorney by your side, you will have someone who can work diligently to recover the evidence needed to secure the compensation you deserve.
Report to Your Insurance Carrier
Insurance carriers typically have a very quick reporting deadline when it comes to vehicle accidents, often within a day or two after the crash occurs. When you make your initial report to your insurance carrier, you do not have to go into much detail. All the carrier needs to know is where the collision occurred and the names and contact information of any other drivers involved. Refer any other questions from your insurance carrier or an insurance claims adjuster to your attorney.
Continue Medical Care
Do not discontinue medical care until after your doctor says you have reached maximum medical improvement. Discontinuing care can seriously jeopardize your ability to recover full compensation from the insurance carriers involved.
If you received head trauma in your accident, reach out to our Southfield brain injury lawyers.
Keep All Documentation
Keep all documentation related to the expenses you incur after a vehicle accident. This includes medical bills, proof of any lost wages if you cannot work, property damage estimates, and more.
The post What Steps Do I Take After A Car Accident? appeared first on Haque Legal.