A car accident can leave you feeling confused or disoriented. If you know what to do when you get into a crash, you can protect yourself and your passengers from further injuries. Knowing what to do after a collision can also help you start filing a claim to seek compensation in the days after the accident.
Our team has compiled a checklist of things to do after a car accident. We’ve also provided a list of things you should not do after a car accident, just in case.
If you were in a car crash in North Alabama and need to speak with an attorney, you can set up a free consultation with our team. To discuss your collision with experienced auto accident lawyers near you, contact our Huntsville law firm today. You can also reach our attorneys by phone at (800) 255-6534.
What You Should Do Immediately After a Car Accident
Knowing what to do right after a collision could protect you from further injury and help your accident claim. Here are some of the most important things you should do immediately after getting into a car crash.
1. Check Yourself and Any Passengers for Injuries
Immediately after the accident, check for any injuries. If you are able to do so, you should also check passengers for injuries.
If you or someone in the vehicle is seriously hurt, call 911 right away for emergency medical attention. Anyone who is seriously injured should avoid moving if possible and wait for medical professionals to arrive.
If you cannot reach or access your phone, ask a bystander or witness to call 911 for you.
2. Get Yourself and Any Passengers to Safety
Some accidents leave injured drivers and passengers in precarious positions or dangerous situations. For example, some car crashes lead to vehicle fires, or a car’s interior can fill with smoke or other noxious fumes.
In unsafe situations, get yourself and any passengers out of the vehicle if possible.
3. Move Your Vehicle Out of Traffic
If your car is still operable after a crash, move your vehicle to the shoulder or side of the road so it is not blocking any oncoming vehicles. This will protect you and anyone else in your vehicle from another potential collision.
Turn on your vehicle’s hazard lights and wait for help to arrive. If you have an emergency car kit, set road flares near the scene of the crash so that other motorists can slow down as they approach the site of the accident.
4. Call 911 to Notify the Authorities
Alabama law requires you to call 911 to report any auto accidents that result in injury or death. It may also be worth reporting a car accident if it resulted in significant damage to your vehicle.
Notifying authorities is crucial for getting urgent medical help and getting a police report of the incident. This official accident report is crucial for the claims process and can also be important evidence in a lawsuit.
5. Exchange Information with Others in the Crash and Any Witnesses
Exchange your information with the other driver and any other motorists who were involved in the car accident. If you’re wondering what information is essential, be sure to get the following:
- Full name, phone number, physical address, and email address
- The other driver’s insurance company and policy number
- The other driver’s license number
- The license plate number of the other vehicles involved in the crash
- The make, model, and color of all other vehicles involved in the crash
- The location of the car accident
- The time of the car accident
If the other driver is not the owner of the vehicle in the crash, be sure to take down the name of the vehicle’s owner.
6. Document the Car Accident
Take photos and video of the car accident to document the damage. Note any skid marks in the road, personal property in your vehicle that was damaged, and license plate numbers. Take pictures from multiple angles.
This is also an opportunity to speak with witnesses about what happened if you are well enough to do so. You can take a video of their account and ask if they have dashcam footage of the collision.
When you have an opportunity later, be sure to make copies of these photos and videos and save backups just in case.
7. Cooperate with Authorities at the Scene of the Collision
When firefighters, EMS, or the police arrive, be cooperative and answer their questions honestly. Cooperating with all first responders helps ensure everyone’s safety.
Take down the names and badge numbers of any police officers who arrive at the scene of the car accident.
What to Do in the Days After Your Car Accident
After the initial collision, there are a few things every motorist should do to aid their claim and ensure peace of mind.
Contact Your Insurance Provider About the Car Accident
Make sure to report the accident to your insurance company as soon as possible. The longer you delay reporting the accident, the more difficult it might be to get reimbursed. Work with your claim representative and provide the documentation they ask for.
Seek Medical Attention to Assess Your Injuries
Not all injuries are obvious. It can take days or weeks until you begin to feel the effects of a car accident. Lingering pain or simply feeling off could be a symptom of an injury.
Even if you did not need emergency medical attention at the scene of the accident, it’s worth seeing your doctor to get checked out. Getting full documentation of any injuries sustained is helpful for your claim.
Speak with a Car Accident Attorney About What Happened
After a major injury accident, it’s in your best interests to speak with a lawyer about what happened. A legal professional can help you understand the value of your claim and what steps to take to maximize compensation after an accident.
To request a free case review with a member of our North Alabama legal team, contact our law firm today. The Huntsville auto accident attorneys at Martinson & Beason, P.C. can assess your crash, discuss your injuries, and help you understand your best options for seeking justice.
What You Should NOT Do After a Car Accident
We’ve covered the do’s after a car accident, so let’s list a few of the don’ts.
Here are some things you should never do after a car accident. Avoiding these missteps can help your claim and keep you out of trouble after a crash.
Never Leave the Scene of an Auto Accident
In Alabama, it’s a felony to leave the scene of an accident that resulted in injury or death; it’s a misdemeanor if someone leaves the scene of an accident when the crash only caused property damage.
Always stay put after a crash and wait for the authorities to arrive. Take people’s information, and make sure police officers get the details they need to file an incident report.
Do Not Admit Fault or Apologize for Causing the Accident
Be careful about what you say after an accident, especially to the other driver or your insurance company. Alabama is a contributory negligence state, which means you cannot collect compensation if you are even 1% to blame for an accident.
If you apologize for causing the crash or admit any amount of blame for what happened, it can backfire and prevent you from receiving money in a settlement or jury award. Do not admit fault. Instead, focus on gathering information from people who are present.
That said, you can discuss matters of partial responsibility with your car accident lawyer as part of the consultation process. Your attorney will help you avoid losing out on compensation because of contributory negligence.
Do Not Assume You Are Free from Injuries
As we mentioned earlier, not all injuries are obvious. You may have walked away from a collision relatively unscathed, but you may have suffered a mild brain injury, neck injury, or other physical trauma that may not be apparent until later.
See your doctor out of an abundance of caution. Even a minor injury from the accident could affect how much you receive in your accident claim.
Never Share That You Were in an Accident on Social Media
Oversharing on social media is never a good idea, especially when it comes to injuries, accidents, and legal matters.
Do not post any photos of your accident or offer any details about the crash on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or other platforms. If you say the wrong thing or share too much information, it could impact your car accident claim.
If you do want to speak with loved ones or friends about your accident, make sure to do so privately and with people you can trust.
Do Not Accept a Quick Settlement Offer
If you’re injured in a car accident, there’s a temptation to accept the initial settlement offer. This is money you can use to pay your medical bills, cover repairs, and take care of other out-of-pocket expenses. Yet insurance companies may shortchange you in this initial settlement offer because they know you need cash.
Before you accept or decline any settlement, be sure to speak with a car accident lawyer about the collision and your injuries. Your attorney can review the offer and let you know if it accurately reflects the true value of your claim.
Do I Really Need a Lawyer If I’ve Been in a Car Crash?
In many situations, yes. If you were in a serious auto accident, it’s in your best interests to discuss what happened with a legal professional.
When You Need to Speak with a Car Accident Lawyer
- You Were Injured in a Car Crash: If you suffered any kind of injury, it’s worth speaking with an attorney about what happened during the collision and the lasting effects of the injury on your life.
- You Lost a Loved One in a Fatal Collision: If you lost a member of your family in a fatal auto wreck, a lawyer can discuss filing a wrongful death claim against the negligent party in the crash.
- Your Vehicle Was Seriously Damaged: If your car was totaled or severely damaged in a crash, an attorney can help ensure you are properly compensated for vehicle repairs or replacement, and any expenses you had to shoulder while you were without a vehicle.
When You Don’t Need to Speak with a Car Accident Lawyer
You don’t need to contact an attorney about your car accident if:
- You were in a minor accident or fender bender
- No one was hurt during the car accident
- The liable party in the accident is clear and not under dispute
- You receive a fair settlement offer based on the nature of the accident
If you have any second thoughts about your accident or just want peace of mind, you can reach out to the Huntsville car accident lawyers at Martinson & Beason, P.C. for a free consultation.
Why Should I Trust the Attorneys at Martinson & Beason, P.C.
If you’ve been seriously hurt in a crash, you deserve to be treated like a human being rather than a case number or a dollar amount. Martinson & Beason, P.C. provides the genuine care and attention you deserve during a challenging time.
Our law firm has represented the people of Alabama since 1937. For almost a century, we’ve treated each client like a member of our family.
Free Consultations
The last thing accident victims need is another bill. We know how collisions can upend someone’s life, which is why we charge nothing for consultations. You can get your case evaluated by trusted legal professionals for free.
If We Don’t Win, You Don’t Pay
The lawyers at Martinson & Beason, P.C. work on a contingency fee basis. That means clients only pay us if we can secure a settlement or win damages in a trial. If we don’t win, you don’t pay us a dime.
How Can I Learn More About My Legal Options After a Car Accident?
If you got into a serious car accident and need to speak with a lawyer about what happened, you can count on Martinson & Beason, P.C. for help. To request a free case review with trusted Huntsville car accident attorneys, contact our law firm today. You can also reach our office by phone at (800) 255-6534.