Car accidents can happen suddenly and without warning. Nonetheless, it is essential to know exactly what you should do after a car accident occurs. According to The Law Office of Jack M. Shapiro – car accident lawyer, here are five steps to take if you are involved in an accident in Illinois:
Call Authorities & Seek Medical Assistance
When a car accident occurs, the first thing you should do is call authorities and request medical assistance if you are able. If you can’t, ask someone else to do it, and if someone is severely hurt, try to help them while on the line with paramedics. Be calm. They can instruct you on how to proceed safely.
Gather Evidence
If you feel good enough, you should gather evidence for your case. Take pictures at different angles of the accident scene, road conditions, your injuries, and the damages to all the vehicles. You can also look around for CCTV cameras and write down the commercial buildings where they are located so that you can use the footage later.
You can also record with your phone. If other drivers or pedestrians are present, write down their contact information. They will be able to act as eyewitnesses for your case. Write down the contact information and plate numbers of the at-fault driver as well, and if you are dealing with a hit-and-run car accident, write down everything you or the other witnesses remember about the car details and inform the police officers as soon as possible.
Undergo a Medical Checkup
Once the medics arrive at the accident scene, you should prioritize your health and accept any checkup regardless of how well you feel. This will be useful for your personal injury claim later as well. Write down every expense, even out-of-pocket expenses, while you are recovering and receiving medical treatment.
Inform the Insurance Company
Letting your insurance company know about the accident as soon as possible is crucial. However, do not detail your accident, only the basic facts such as your injuries and information about the other driver.
The other driver’s insurance company will most likely contact you swiftly and ask you to sign things or give a statement. Do not do anything until you speak with a car accident lawyer. What you say or do can be used against you, either to shift blame or lower your compensation claim.
Contact a Lawyer
Once you can, contact a car accident lawyer to prepare your personal injury claim. With this claim, you can receive compensation for your injuries, medical treatment, lost wages, or even intangible damages such as emotional anguish, pain and suffering, PTSD, and more.
A car accident lawyer will help you build your case, gather further evidence, or work with other professionals to prove negligence and fault. They will also negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf so that you can recover all the damages you are entitled to.
Many car accident lawyers provide free consultations, and you don’t have to pay them unless you win the case. Apart from this, working with a lawyer doesn’t mean you automatically bring your case to trial. On the contrary, a lawyer will most likely help you receive a fair settlement without court proceedings.
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