What you do after a traffic accident can greatly impact the viability and value of your claim. Of course, if you are seriously injured and you wake up in the hospital the next day, it will be too late to take some of the actions listed below. It is always best, however, to have a friend or a loved one act on your behalf if you are too seriously injured to take the following steps on your own behalf.

Steps to Take

To the extent that you are able, take the following steps immediately after an accident:

• Stop at the scene of the accident and call 911. You can be arrested for leaving the scene of an accident.
• Report the accident to the police, if they do not arrive at the scene of the accident. You may need to retrieve a copy of the police report later.
• Photograph the scene of the accident, preferably before the vehicles have been towed out of the road.
• Collect contact details for the other driver, anyone else involved in the accident, and any witnesses.
• Seek medical attention immediately, even if you don’t believe you are seriously injured. Certain types of injuries take a while to produce symptoms, and you don’t want the insurance company claiming that your injury didn’t even occur until after the accident.
• Retain any documentation provided to you by your health care provider, including bills. Medical records are crucial evidence.
• Contact a Lexington personal injury lawyer as soon as possible! Your lawyer can help you avoid common missteps that could damage your claim.
• Report the accident to your insurance company, even if you don’t anticipate that they will be paying your claim. Don’t give them any unnecessary information! Ideally, you should consult with your lawyer before contacting the insurance company.
• Talk to your lawyer before giving any information to the at-fault driver’s insurance company. If your injuries are serious, they may be the ones paying your claim, and they will bend over backwards looking for an excuse not to. Don’t give them any ammunition.

There’s No Time to Waste

What you do after a car accident can greatly impact the value of your personal injury claim. It is even more important, however, to secure professional legal representation. Contact Glenn Martin Hammond Law Office, PLLC by calling (866) 448-7777 or by contacting us online for a free, confidential consultation. We serve clients throughout Lexington, Kentucky including Bryan Station, Meadowthorpe, Masterson Station, Winburn and elsewhere.