For the most part, cars are a safe and convenient method of transportation. When drivers adhere to safe driving practices, we can all travel safely to our destinations. Unfortunately, there are times when other drivers become distracted by their phones, travel at unsafe speeds, or operate their vehicles while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and disaster occurs. If you’ve suffered an injury in a car accident because of another driver’s negligent actions, it’s understandable that you may initially feel shocked and confused about what to do next. Whether you’ve already been a victim of a car accident or you simply want to prepare yourself for this possibility, it’s helpful to know what steps you can take to regain control over your life.
Assess the Situation
As soon as the incident occurs, make sure you assess yourself and others for any injuries. If there are any life-threatening or severe injuries, immediately contact an ambulance. Even seemingly minor injuries can gradually reveal themselves to be more serious over time, so it’s important to consult a physician within the next day or two to have your injuries evaluated. Once the safety of everyone involved in the accident has been assessed, contact 911 so that an officer can arrive on the scene to create an incident report. While this may not seem important at the time, an incident report will be very helpful in the future if you decide to pursue a personal injury claim.
Remain at the Scene
Sometimes, people go into a minor state of shock after an accident, and they leave the scene in a daze. It’s important to remain at the scene of the incident until the proper authorities arrive. Even if the accident wasn’t your fault, you need to stay and share your information with the other people involved and the responding officers. Make sure you gather the contact and insurance information from the other people at the scene, and write down the names of any witnesses. Their testimony could prove very useful to constructing a persuasive and compelling claim later on.
Document Everything
They key to building an effective personal injury claim is to include as much documentation as possible. If your car or other property was damaged, take photographs. Save all your medical records relating to any injuries or treatments you received as a result of the accident. It can also be useful to keep a journal of how the accident has impacted you—physically, emotionally, financially, or otherwise. Finally, it’s imperative that you reach out to an experienced personal injury lawyer who can help you take the next steps towards recovering the compensation you deserve.
Hales & Associates, A Professional Law Corporation is here to help you successfully pursue financial damages following an accident in the Temecula area. Call (951) 489-3320 today to learn more.