Your Step-by-Step Guide: What To Do After a Car Accident
Emotions can be high after an accident; fear and anger can cause people to make poor decisions in the immediate aftermath of a car wreck. Being prepared ahead of time with the right steps to take when you’ve been hurt by another driver can make a real difference in your eventual claim. If you’re in a car accident in Norfolk, VA, be sure to keep the following five steps in mind:
1. Stay Calm and Check for Injuries
Take a deep breath to calm yourself; check yourself, your passengers, and (if possible) the passengers in the other car for injuries; and avoid apologizing or making any accusations. Though it may seem reasonable at the moment, you don’t yet have the full story, so placing or taking the blame can cause you serious complications later.
2. Call 911 or Non-Emergency Police
If anyone has life-threatening injuries, do not waste time. Call 9-1-1 for emergency medical services. However, even if there are no life-threatening injuries or seem to be no injuries at all, first responders should still be contacted. In that case, you should call the local non-emergency number, make sure a police report is filed for your records, and get checked out by the EMTs.
In the following days, if injuries start to show up that weren’t obvious at first, be sure to see your doctor or go to an ER as soon as possible!
3. Document Everything
While at the scene of the accident, make sure to take a record of anything and everything you are safely able to document. Insurance information of the other driver, contact information for any witnesses, pictures of the vehicle’s damage, and pictures of your injuries can all help with your car insurance claim.
4. Report the Accident to Your Insurance Provider
Once you get the chance, it is important that you report the accident to your insurance company. In all your dealings with insurance companies, keep in mind that you should never sign or agree to anything without a lawyer. Be sure to give the insurance no more than the basic facts of your accident.
5. Contact a Lawyer Immediately
The final step is to obtain legal representation by calling a car accident lawyer in Norfolk. Having a lawyer by your side gives you the best possible chance of maximizing the settlement you receive to make sure it accounts for every one of your damages. Don’t try to face all of this on your own—The Wolf Pack® has your back.
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