Being in a car accident is always a stressful experience. No matter the extent of injuries or property damage involved in a car accident, the stress alone can be enough to leave you shaken for a while. While that stress is already plenty to deal with, the fallout from an accident can be extensive. That’s why you need to do what you can to put yourself in the best position after an accident to get the compensation you deserve.
Read on to learn what to do after a car accident, and discover how experienced Charleston car accident lawyers like the Thumbs Up Guys can help.
#1: Stay Safe
The first and most important step after an accident is to ensure your safety. Call emergency services to get the proper help you need before you do anything else. If you find yourself largely unscathed by the accident, you may want to check on anyone else involved. Human life will always be more important than any other kind of damage caused by an accident, so prioritize that above all else.
#2: Report the Accident
After you’ve done everything you can to ensure the safety of everyone involved, you’ll need to notify the police. This serves quite a few purposes. Police may be needed to maintain order after the chaos of a crash, and they will also document the scene. Their report will come in handy when it comes time to make your personal injury claim.
#3: Get Information From Others Involved
Once the police have been called, you’ll need to exchange insurance information with the other driver or drivers involved in the accident. The basic information required will be their name, license plate number, and driver’s license number. Additionally, you’ll need to collect their insurance information. This includes the name of their carrier, their policy number, their agent’s name, and the agent’s phone number.
Remember that when you’re talking to other drivers, do not admit guilt in the accident. Even so much as apologizing can be used against you in court. It’s best to simply not discuss responsibility for the accident at all.
#4: Gather Evidence
After everyone is safe and the basic information exchange is out of the way, it’s time to protect your losses and gather evidence if you can. The first thing you should do is take photographs of the accident. It’s essential that you do this before the vehicles are moved off the road by police, if possible. Be sure to take a lot of photos highlighting vehicle damage as well as any skid marks on the road. You’ll also need to get some shots of the accident as a whole that highlight the location of the vehicles in relation to each other as well as any other property that was damaged in the accident.
#5: Call a Charleston Car Accident Lawyer
As soon as you possibly can, get in touch with a reputable and experienced Charleston car accident lawyer. Insurance companies are not your friend, and they will do whatever they can to avoid paying you the full compensation you’re owed. With an experienced car accident attorney like the ones you’ll find among the Thumbs Up Guys at Miller, Dawson, Sigal & Ward Injury Attorneys, you’ll have someone in your corner who’s willing to fight the big insurance companies to get you the compensation you deserve. Call us or fill out our online form today for a free case review.
