A car accident can be a terrifying experience and often the shock that can follow causes people to forget what they need to do. The first thing we suggest that you do is stay calm and focus on completing the necessary procedures. The most important thing is the health and safety of the people involved so if medical attention is necessary, call an ambulance. If the accident is more minor, move to a safe place and then call the police. The importance of calling the police has to do with obtaining the police report as proof of what happened. The steps needed mainly revolve around preserving evidence to later help your case when receiving the compensation that you need. After handling the needs of medical attention and bringing the police to the scene, the next steps should be:
- Provide a statement and your side of the story to the police
- Obtain a copy of the police report
- Talk to witnesses and collect their contact information
- Exchange information with all other drivers involved
- Take pictures of the damage to vehicles, your injuries and the surrounding area of the accident
- Take notes so that you remember the details of the accident later on
- Report the incident to your insurance company
- Get a damage figure from the insurance company
- Contact a lawyer
One of the most common mistakes is signing a document or accepting an estimate/ offer right off the bat. You need to get an attorney and pursue the damage recovery that you deserve. Be careful what you say after the accident, do not start apologizing or admitting fault in any way. With the help of a skilled Hartford personal injury lawyer you can have knowledgeable legal guidance through this process and help in pursing compensation. Contact Cicchiello & Cicchiello, LLP today to set up a free case evaluation and see how we can assist you in your car accident case.