Having a car accident can be a very stressful event. The stress of having to cope with your injuries and property damage and the worry of trying to figure out what to do next. You will likely have many questions about what to do next. There’s a lot of legal jargon in filing an actual insurance claim, and it can be overwhelming. Although no one plans to be in an accident, it is important to take the necessary steps, such as contacting rideshare accident lawyers, to protect your rights. So here are some legal steps you can take after a car accident to help you get through this process.

Get Medical Care

Medical care is an obvious priority after a car accident. But if you don’t have health insurance, the costs can be substantial. Even if you have insurance, there may be gaps in your coverage that could result in you having to pay for some of your medical bills. The extent of your injuries might not be clear immediately after a car accident. Some injuries don’t manifest until days after the crash — but the longer you wait to seek treatment, the harder it will be for your doctor to connect those injuries with the crash.

Call The Police

The police will come to the accident scene and get statements from everyone involved in the accident. They’ll also take pictures and make notes of what they see on the ground at the accident scene. The police officer will then write up a report detailing what happened in the accident. You should obtain a copy of this report as soon as possible after your car wreck. Contacting the police is also a good idea if you believe the other driver was negligent or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. A police report is a good way to document those facts in case you need them later.

Collect Evidence

Write down as much as you can remember about the crash while it’s still fresh. Be sure to take photos of any visible injuries, damaged property, or other relevant information. In addition to taking photos, you will want to make sure you get a copy of the police report. You can obtain a copy of this report from the police department that responded to your accident. It’s also important to exchange contact information with the other driver and witnesses. If multiple vehicles are involved, get information from all the drivers and witnesses. Get the name, address, phone number, license plate number, and insurance information of every driver involved in the accident. If you can’t get this information at the accident scene, call the police department or state highway patrol to find where and when to report it.

Notify Your Insurance Company

This should happen as soon as possible after a car accident, but some people put it off because they’re worried about getting in trouble or their rates going up. However, failing to notify your insurance company means that they may not cover your costs if there’s a delay in treatment — and if you wait too long, they may refuse to cover anything at all. You should also talk to rideshare accident lawyers before giving a recorded statement to anyone from an insurance company. Sometimes, these statements are used against you later on. Sometimes insurance companies will be able to send out an investigator to assess the damages and try to determine the fault for the accident. If you haven’t yet filed a claim with your insurance company, now is the time to do so.

Talk to An Attorney

Talk to rideshare accident lawyers about your options for compensation for your injuries and damage to your car. If you were hurt in the accident or incurred significant expenses, talk to an attorney about whether it may make sense for you to file a personal injury lawsuit against the other driver. Also, remember that it’s best to contact them as soon as possible so they can begin investigating your case while memories are fresh and evidence is still available to examine and preserve.

Bottom Line

No matter how hard you try to stay safe on the roads, accidents happen daily. When they do, it’s important to take certain steps right away to minimize any damage and get on with your life. So if you find yourself in that unfortunate position, all you have to do is to be professional, be honest and follow these five legal steps after a car accident, and you should be fine.

Published: 2022-04-01 18:02:09