If You Have an Accident in Which Someone Is Injured You Should Follow These Steps

Written by Jeremy D. Earle, JD

April 21, 2023

What should you do if you’ve been involved in an injury-involved accident?

Nobody expects to get in an accident when they wake up in the morning. Even small accidents may result in many worries, lost time at work, and expensive medical expenses. Following an accident, you may be unsure about what to do next. The car accident lawyers at warrior will outline the steps you need to go back to where you were before the accident in this article.

The way you react during and after the accident is very

Important. Knowing what to do and, more significantly, what not to do in a personal injury lawsuit may make all the difference. Small accidents may be minor annoyances, but accidents that result in injuries are significant. So, what should you do if you’re involved in a car accident?

Remain on the scene

First and foremost, do not leave the accident scene unless you have been seriously injured and require medical assistance

Immediately. Never leave the site of an accident, even if you don’t intend to submit a claim. First and foremost, leaving the site of an accident is prohibited and may result in serious consequences, particularly if anybody is wounded.

It is against the law in most states to leave the scene of an accident without stopping and checking for injuries. It is vital that you remain in your current location, phone the cops, and enable them to conduct an investigation. Evidence will be crucial in assessing not just guilt but also the value of a claim in an accident involving injuries. If you flee the scene of an accident, the authorities will be unable to investigate and collect the evidence required to determine who is responsible. Don’t put your case in jeopardy before it even begins!

After an accident, relocate your car to the side of the road if it is safe to do so. Stay off the side of the road as much as possible. You’re not only upsetting other cars who are trying to move around, but you’re also putting yourself in danger of causing a secondary accident.

LOOK FOR INJURIES IN ALL PARTIES.

Check to discover any injuries among the passengers in your car. Then, if it is safe to do so, go to the other car and check with all occupants. Call 911 straight once if there are any significant injuries. In any case, you should call the cops and report the collision.

HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE OTHER DRIVER

This is an excellent opportunity to share information with the other driver if there are no life- threatening injuries. Pulling out your smartphone is the easiest and most effective method to do this. Take a photo of the other driver’s insurance card from both the front and rear. Make that you have the company’s name, policy number, and contact information. Small chats should be limited apart from the basic exchange of facts.

Don’t forget to acquire the other driver’s personal information as well. The name on the insurance card may not be the same as the name on the driver’s license. The driver’s initial and last name, as well as his or her phone number, should be obtained. Keeping the phone number on your phone is a wonderful strategy to ensure that the information isn’t lost; in most circumstances, you’ll be glad you did.

COLLECT AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE

Collecting evidence may make you feel like you’re at the scene of a crime. While we won’t go quite that far, keep in mind that a personal injury lawsuit is a LEGAL CLAIM. Evidence will be crucial in your case if you are bringing a claim for damages for an injury or believe the other party is.

Collect proof even if you don’t believe anybody will make a claim. Although injuries may not be visible right away, symptoms might arise hours or even days later. As a result, you should constantly double-check that everything is recorded. This won’t need CSI-style evidence bagging. Taking images of the damages with your phone is the greatest approach to capture the accident site.

So, why is this required in the first place? If the accident results in a legal claim, you’ll need documentation to show when, when, and how the event occurred. Consider how you would prove what occurred to a total stranger since your attorney may be required to do just that! The following are absolute must-haves:

PHOTOGRAPHS OF CAR DAMAGE

Take images of both autos. When the damage to each car is compared, it can be seen how the collision occurred. They don’t have to be of professional quality, but they should be clear enough that you can recognize what they are. Take shots of the whole car if possible. This will safeguard you if extra damages arise due to the accident.

A PHOTO OF THE OTHER DRIVER’S LICENSE PLATE:

You’d be surprised how often individuals say they weren’t driving or that their car was never involved in an accident. However, it’s difficult to dismiss images of a damaged car paired with images of the license plate. You’ll gain bonus points if you can obtain the license plate and the damage in the same image.

WITNESSES’ NAMES AND CONTACT INFORMATION:

People are notorious for lying, particularly when it comes to money. When a motorist has a higher insurance bill in front of them, they may recall the circumstances of the collision quite differently than you do. If you have witnesses to back up your allegation, the opposing side will find it more difficult to get away with lying.

ADDITIONAL TANGIBLE EVIDENCE

Is there any evidence of skid marks? Was there any damage to the property? Do you see a stop sign on the ground? Take photos of everything that you believe would aid your case.

SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION

The first and most crucial reason to seek medical attention following an accident is because your health and well-being are more important than everything else. If you believe you have a fractured bone, a concussion, or a brain injury, you will most likely be referred to the emergency room or perhaps brought there by ambulance. Even if you don’t need an ambulance, you should visit an emergency hospital or urgent care facility to get examined out.

Aside from receiving therapy, there is one thing you should keep in mind while seeing the doctor. Your injuries and side of the story are being chronicled for the first time. Insurance companies will utilize this information. Be completely honest about your injuries. Don’t exaggerate or minimize the severity of your discomfort. Make a list of everything. This is also not the time to discuss who is to blame. This is not the time to discuss whether or not you believe you had a role in the accident. Take care of your injuries first, and then worry about the rest afterward.

DO YOU KNOW IF YOU’VE BEEN INJURED?

It’s common for individuals to disregard indicators of damage after an accident. Because of the accident, some individuals are willing to deal with a little discomfort. However, “a little” discomfort might indicate more severe damage. If you are enduring discomfort after an injury, even a few days later, you should seek medical attention. PLUS, the sooner you are examined following an accident, the more seriously your claim will be taken by the insurance carrier.

Following are some of the most frequent injuries that occur as a result of an accident:

SOFT TISSUE INJURIES

Soft tissue injuries are sometimes derided as a “made-up” ailment after a fender crash. On the other hand, soft tissue injuries are extremely real – just ask anybody who has had neck and back discomfort after a car accident.

A rear-end collision is the most common cause of a soft tissue neck or back injury. Your head and back are positioned parallel to the seat while you’re seated in your car. When you’re struck from behind, though, your head swings forcefully back and then forward.

It is certainly painful if this sounds extremely painful. Soft tissue injuries may cause significant discomfort for weeks or months after an injury by straining the muscles in your neck and back. Bulging or herniated discs that have been traumatically wounded may cause serious soft tissue injury.

TraUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES

A traumatic brain injury is a dangerous condition. The majority of these injuries occur when your head collides with an item in the car. This might be a window, a seat, the steering wheel, or even an airbag. A penetrating wound to the head in a serious accident might result in brain damage. You may not notice you have a brain injury until an item penetrates your skull or you lose consciousness. You should seek medical attention as soon as you notice any symptoms that indicate brain damage. Better better, get checked out if you even suspect you’ve had a concussion. Headaches, dizziness, mood changes, sleep, memory issues, and trouble focusing are all common signs of a brain injury.

INJURIES TO THE SPINAL CORD

Some spinal cord injuries are evident, while others are more subtle. The most serious issue is paralysis. Have someone contact 911 if you cannot move any part of your body. This is a life-threatening situation. Like severe brain injuries, spinal cord injuries don’t often show up straight away. As the chord swells or bleeds, symptoms may appear. Be on the lookout for signs of a spinal cord injury. Numbness, tingling, trouble moving, or lack of feeling are all examples of this. Breathing difficulties and a lack of bowel or bladder control are two further symptoms.

BROKEN BONES

Breaking a bone is a painful experience. And, once again, they aren’t always readily apparent. You won’t be able to see your break unless you have an open fracture where the bone protrudes from the skin (yes, it occurs). You will, however, most likely sense it. Do not try to put weight on or utilize a fractured bone. Seek medical help as soon as possible. Delaying treatment may aggravate your injury.

WHAT IF I AM UNABLE TO PAY FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT?

Medical treatment is, without a doubt, prohibitively costly. Treatment costs money, whether it’s an ambulance journey to a full-fledged hospital emergency room, a trip to an urgent care facility, or a simple visit to a doctor or chiropractor. Many individuals do not have health insurance, and even if they do, deductibles and co-pays may make medical treatment prohibitively costly or impossible to get.

An attorney’s ability to help you acquire medical treatment under a lien, or letter of protection, is one of the most important ways an attorney may assist you in such a circumstance. Frequently, an attorney may guarantee to pay a medical provider AFTER a matter is settled or otherwise handled, allowing YOU to get the medical care you need, WHEN you need it, at no up-front “out of pocket” expense. When required, lawyers may often negotiate reductions in medical expenditures, ensuring that you get the highest “net” compensation feasible.

CONSULT A PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY IN COLORADO SPRINGS

You may be thinking to yourself, “Why would I pay someone to speak to my insurance provider when I can do it myself?” To begin with, the majority of personal injury lawyers practice on a contingency basis. This implies they aren’t paid until and until you are. You’ll pay a predetermined percentage of your total compensation, and the first consultation is nearly always free.

Furthermore, you should engage a personal injury attorney following an accident since insurance companies are not your friends. They don’t care whether you have enough money to pay for your injuries or if you’re prepared in case anything goes wrong. Their first objective is to get out of your case as swiftly and inexpensively as feasible!

This implies you’ll most likely receive a lowball offer at first and then hear nothing further. You can attempt to raise the offer, but you may not be successful. When you hire a lawyer, the insurance company is forced to treat your claim seriously. They won’t be able to get away with undervaluing you.

Still not persuaded? Here are some of the things an attorney may help you with: Speak with insurance firms.

Organize medical treatment.

Put off medical expenses till you are paid. Organize and collect evidence

Make appointments (mediation, depositions, court meetings, etc.) Initiate legal action

Take care of your expenses.

To summarize, a personal injury attorney will do everything possible to increase your payout. Remember, we only get paid if you get paid. Injuries may easily add up in cost. That is an expense you do not want to bear on your own.

It’s crucial to remember that you only have a certain amount of time to submit a claim, so make sure you take care of your injuries as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please contact us to ensure that you understand how to defend your rights.

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