Steps to Follow After a Car Crash

Following any type of injury, you will likely experience some form of disorientation or shock. Nobody wakes up expecting to be injured that day. It always comes as a surprise.

Car crashes can be hard to process in the moments following the accident. They are loud, and the injuries can be substantial. If you are affected by a car crash, you need to know what to do.

Below, we have outlined some of the most common considerations. For further information, you may wish to contact a lawyer. For example, check out this PI lawyer directory for information on lawyers in your area.

Take Photos of Your Injuries  

If your claim qualifies for personal injury compensation, the success of your case will hinge on evidence. That is why you must pay attention to your injuries at the scene of the accident. Try to take photos as soon as possible. This action will mean that you capture the state of your injury at the time of the accident. Photos of your injury taken days or even weeks after the event will not show the true extent of the damage.

Although it can be difficult to concentrate during a developing situation, your case will benefit from the action that you take. If you are unable to take photos due to your injury, but you are relatively stable, consider asking a passenger or any other bystander to take the image for you. Remember, evidence from the scene only exists at the time (you cannot gather it later on).

Take Photos of the Scene

Similar to the above point about time-sensitive evidence, you must try to take photos of the scene at the time of the accident.

Include close up photos of any damage to your vehicle or belongings. Also, include wide-angle shots of the accident as a whole as this will capture potential evidence that close-ups cannot.

For example, wide-angle shots will reveal lighting conditions, weather conditions, road conditions, and other relevant factors such as obstructions that could lend weight to an argument for having taken evasive action.

Once you leave the site of your accident, people could remove evidence on which you could later rely. Always try to take photos before you depart the scene. 

Report the Accident to the Authorities

You must always report the accident to the authorities. Although legal requirements differ in different areas, your insurance claim and your right to personal injury compensation will necessarily involve looking at information taken from the accident report. That is why you should always report the accident, no matter how small or inconsequential you believe the details to be at the time.

Exchange Details with the Other Driver  

The identity of the other driver involved in your accident is information that you can easily attain at the scene. Any failure to swap details at this early stage will likely mean your insurance company or legal team will have to carry out investigations. Take the opportunity to edge matters along by asking the details of the other driver while you have the chance