Being involved in a car accident can be overwhelming, but knowing the right steps to take can make a big difference. In this guide, we break down what you should do immediately after an accident to protect your safety, rights, and potential insurance claim. Check out our infographic below for a quick visual summary of the essential steps to take!
1. Check for Injuries
This is obviously always the main concern immediately after any accident. Major injuries will be apparent, but did you know many injuries may not show symptoms for days after an accident so it is important to always seek medical treatment. All injuries need to be documented for any potential claim you may have. If you fail to seek medical treatment, insurance companies may attempt to use that against you and try to deny your injury claim.
2. Call 911
While serious injuries require immediate medical attention, you also need police help to document the accident. The police will gather information about the accident by speaking with the drivers, speaking with witnesses, and documenting the scene. They will use this information to determine who was at-fault and they will file an accident report detailing this information. The accident report is a very helpful document to use for your claim. Without this, it may be your word against the other driver’s word.
Click here to learn how to get a copy of your car accident report in Macon.
3. Document the Accident with Pictures and Videos
It is important to document the scene if you are able to. So what does that mean?
- Take pictures and videos of your car and the damage to it;
- Take pictures and videos of the other driver’s car;
- Take pictures and videos of the whole scene;
- Take pictures and videos of any injuries you have.
It is rare to have too many pictures and videos of an accident scene when filing a claim. Although a police report is very important, do not rely 100% on the police report to detail everything for you. Protect yourself and protect your case.
4. Gather Contact Information
It is important to gather the contact information from the at-fault driver and any other witnesses to the accident. Again, do not rely solely on the accident report to contain this important information. It is very common for an accident report to list a witness, but it does not include their contact information. Having this information early on can help speed up your claim.
5. Speak with an Attorney
Speaking with an accident attorney about your case will not cost you a dime. All Accident attorneys offer free injury case reviews and work on a contingency basis. What does this mean? It means you do not have to pay for anything unless they are able to recover compensation for you from the insurance company. They will take a percentage, often 33%-40% of the total settlement.
You can speak with them about the details of your accident, how severe your injuries are and how this accident has affected your daily activities. An attorney will be able to review this information and give you an estimate of what your claim could be worth. They can also detail any weaknesses in your claim.
Attorneys are also able to guide you through the process step by step and do all the heavy lifting for you while you concentrate on your recovery. And if the insurance company is trying to lowball your claim, an attorney can file suit and go to court for you to get the fair value of your claim.
Contact Brodie Law Group: Macon Accident Attorneys
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, contact the Brodie Law Group at (478) 239-2780. We are Macon’s local accident attorneys and ready to help you every step of the way. We are conveniently located at 4580 Sheraton Drive, right off Exit 171 on I-75 – the same exit as the Shoppes at River Crossing.