What steps do I take after a car accident?

What to Do After a Car Accident

Being involved in a car accident can be life-changing. Regardless of how minimal or severe your injuries or property damage may be, it is important to seek the help of an experienced attorney to obtain justice. However, before you can begin the legal process, you should first be informed of the common causes of car accidents, as well as what to expect immediately following a crash.

Common Causes of Accidents

Car accidents can happen when you least expect. Unfortunately, even the safest and most experienced drivers can be affected by the poor decisions of others on the road. Generally speaking, there are three underlying themes of most car accidents: poor weather conditions, distracted driving, and driving under the influence.

Poor weather conditions can be characterized by a variety of things, including heavy rain, snow, icy roads, and high winds. In all of these listed circumstances, it is absolutely crucial that drivers adjust their speed while enhancing their awareness of others. Particularly in snowy and icy conditions, drivers should maintain a speed that is about half of the posted speed limit. Failing to do so can cause drivers to lose control of a vehicle, endangering their own lives as well as the lives of other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.

Steps to Take Immediately After an Accident

If you happen to get into an accident, there are a few specific things you need to do. First, make sure your vehicle and the other vehicle(s) involved have cleared the road. Find a safe space away from traffic to speak with them. Then, contact the police. Even in a “minor” crash or fender-bender, you will need the authorities there to document any damages and wrongdoing on behalf of the involved parties.

While you wait for an officer to arrive, write down the license plate number of all involved vehicles. Start exchanging information with the other driver(s), including your full name, insurance, address, and phone number. By this time, a responding officer should be there to print out an accident report for you. You should also take pictures of the damage and surrounding environment with a cell phone or camera.

Contact an Experienced Attorney

Once you get everything sorted out at the scene of the accident, it is time to focus on what happens next. Car accident cases are extremely complex, particularly if one or more of the involved parties were injured during the crash. Therefore, you need the assistance of an Alabama attorney with decades of experience in this field. At Martinson & Beason, P.C., we have helped a countless number of Huntsville area drivers obtain the justice they deserve from these wrecks.

Whether it be reimbursement for lost wages, personal suffering, or even the death of a loved one, you need a trusted attorney who will take a personal interest in your case. Call us today for a free evaluation.