Lawyers who represent car crash victims usually have a checklist ready that they use to collect case-related information from them. For example, they want to know the actions that the victim took in the immediate aftermath of the accident. It is an important checklist because any slip-ups by the victim can weaken the case.
The good thing is that this checklist also helps people take timely actions if they ever get involved in a car accident – actions that will help strengthen their case. Here it is (note that our legal team has converted questions to actionable items:
What to Do Immediately After the Collision
- Stop, if possible at a safe spot.
- Check, if you can, whether anyone was injured.
- Call 911.
Information to Pass on to the 911 Dispatcher
- The location of the accident (including road, street name, GPS data, any landmark).
- Whether anyone has been injured in the accident.
- Whether anyone is trapped inside the vehicle.
- Whether any car has overturned.
- Whether there are dangers nearby – for example, a vehicle crashing into a power line.
- Whether medical help is required.
(After you call 911, the police and medical technicians will show up.)
What to Do if Anyone is Injured or Dead, or if There is Property Damage
- Immediately notify the police because you are legally required to.
- Provide “reasonable assistance” to the injured.
Take Pictures/Talk to Witnesses
- Take pictures or videos of the accident scene (from different angles).
- Speak to any witnesses or other victims, and obtain their names and contact information.
- Draw a diagram of the position of the cars before and after the accident.
- Exchange your name, address, contact number, car registration, insurance information with other drivers and passengers involved in the accident.
- Make notes (make, model, license plate number, etc.) of each vehicle involved in the accident
What to Do if You are Injured
Know that some symptoms can develop many weeks after the accident – therefore, do not assume you are all okay if injuries do not show up immediately. So, do not tell anyone that you are fine.
- Whether your injuries are visible or aren’t, do insist on getting medical treatment. Discuss even mild symptoms and the possibility of internal injuries or TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) with the medical technicians.
- If the medical team wants to transport you to a hospital, do not refuse.
(Remember that if you refuse medical treatment, it can harm your case.)
Dealing with the Cops at the Accident Scene
The police officer investigating the accident secures the site, coordinates with medical care and transportation agencies, collects evidence, conducts tests (to determine DUI), and issues tickets or citations. You should not interfere in his duties.
- Cooperate with the police and be calm while giving information.
- If the cop gives you a citation, accept it. Do not protest – instead, try and reason with him if you weren’t at fault. Remember that accepting a citation does not make you guilty. If you want to dispute the citation, do so at the traffic court after hiring an experienced Utah-based lawyer for the car crash.
- If the cop asks you to file an accident report, please comply.
Inform your insurance company
- Be quick in informing your insurance company. If you fail or inordinately delay in informing them, the company can increase your premium or refuse to renew your policy.
Hire an Experienced Attorney
The next step would be to hire an experienced lawyer for a car crash who is based in Utah, who specializes in the personal injury niche, particularly in vehicle accidents.
- The attorney does the work of pulling the police report from the Utah Government’s Crash Reports website, investigating the accident, speaking with witnesses, dealing with insurance companies, and gathering any evidence you may have missed out on. Remember that evidence vanishes as time flies – therefore, it is in your interest to hire an attorney at the earliest possible.
Following this checklist will help you stay on the right side of the law and help your lawyer for the car crash draw up a formidable case that will make the at-fault party and his insurance company urge for an early settlement.
If you would like to know more about how to build a strong case, take advantage of our free meeting offer.
FREE INITIAL DISCUSSION
Our Utah-based firm is staffed with experienced and skilled lawyers for car crashes – and our focus is on the personal injury niche. More than 70% of our cases relate to vehicle accidents, and we have helped hundreds of victims get millions of dollars as compensation.
We work on a contingency fee basis (don’t pay if you don’t win). Once we take on a case, we focus our energy and resources on it and do our best to ensure a favorable outcome.
In our free, no-obligation, no-pressure meeting, we will calculate your approximate compensation claim, evaluate your case’s strengths and weaknesses, and help you become a more informed litigant.
You have everything to gain and nothing to lose by meeting us.
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