Every year in the United States, 6 million road accidents take place. Being involved in a car accident as a driver, passenger, or pedestrian can seriously impact your life.

Thankfully, help is at hand. If you’ve been involved in a car accident, a lawyer could help you get the compensation you deserve. However, to make a successful claim after a car accident, there are several things you need to do.

Want to know more about what you need to do if you’ve been involved in a car accident? Then you’re in the right place! Read on to find out seven things you need to do when putting together a car accident case.

1. Seek Medical Attention After a Car Accident

In America, 4.4 million people are injured in car accidents every year. These injuries can be minor or may result in life-changing disabilities. No matter the severity of your injuries, you should always get checked out by a medical professional after a car accident.

First and foremost, this is to ensure your safety. Some of the most serious accident injuries are not always immediately obvious. A full medical assessment will rule out anything life-threatening and will support your recovery.

However, you will also need a record of a medical assessment if you want to make a personal injury claim. Getting checked out provides valuable evidence for a car accident lawsuit.

2. Report the Accident to Law Enforcement

You have a legal obligation to report a road accident to law enforcement and stay at the scene (unless you need urgent medical assistance.)

Law enforcement will make a report of the accident and will gather information from witnesses. They can also put appropriate safety measures, such as traffic diversion, for other road users.

3. Take Pictures of the Accident

If you can, try and get as many pictures of the incident and your vehicle as you can. The police may also take their own photos, but having a time-stamped copy can help you make an insurance claim.

It is also a good idea to take photos of any other vehicles involved in a crash. That way, you have evidence if anyone tries to make a claim against you.

If you don’t have any photos, it’s worth trying to get your hands on any CCTV footage of the accident.

4. Get the Details of the Other Drivers

Before leaving the scene of an accident, make sure you get the details of any other drivers. This includes:

• Their full name, phone numbers, and email addresses
• The make and model of any other vehicles involved in an accident

It is also a good idea to get names and contact details for anyone who witnessed the accident. They may be able to provide valuable evidence later.

When the police attend the accident, make sure you keep a note of the name, badge numbers, and phone numbers of any officers on the scene.

5. Look Into Your Insurance Policy

Car insurance provides important financial protection if you are involved in an accident.

This can help you to cover the cost of medical payments or property damage. Your liability insurance will also cover claims made against you after an accident.

Whether you want to file a claim may depend on:

• Who was at fault in your accident
• The amount of damage caused by the accident
• The severity of any injuries
• The amount of insurance coverage you or the other driver has

If you are going to file a claim, you should do this as soon as possible after an accident and have your evidence organized before you do this.

However, you should only speak to an insurance adjuster when you are ready. If one tries to contact you without warning, tell them you will get in touch another day.

6. Get in Touch With a Car Accident Attorney

If you want to file a car accident lawsuit, then getting a car accident lawyer on your side is a very good idea.

They have plenty of experience dealing with these cases and understand car accident law, so they know which lines of inquiry to check out. This means they’ll be able to put together the strongest possible case for you.

Hiring a car accident lawyer also takes the pressure off you while you are recovering from an accident. They will gather evidence, meet deadlines, and liaise with the other drivers for you. This means that you can focus your time and energy on the thing that matters most – your recovery.

7. Avoid Doing These Things After a Car Accident

It is also important to keep in mind some of the things you mustn’t do after a car accident. These could jeopardize any claims you try to make and may get you in trouble with the law.

Do not flee the scene of a car accident. Unless you need to go to the hospital urgently (in an ambulance), you should stay at the scene until law enforcement arrives. If you don’t, you may receive a criminal charge.

Do not admit guilt. Even if you think an accident was your fault, wait for the dust to settle and avoid making admissions that could leave you in hot water later. This includes not apologizing to other drivers when you give them your information.

Do not point the finger at other drivers. The police and insurance companies will determine who is to blame for an accident based on evidence.

Get Support After a Car Accident

As you can see, there are plenty of things you need to do after a car accident to protect yourself and any future insurance claims.

Having a car accident attorney on your side will make all the difference in a car accident case. So what are you waiting for?

For more help preparing yourself for a car accident settlement, check out the rest of our car accident and personal injury blogs!