Car Accident Injury: What to Do When You're Injured in a Car Accident

No one wants to think about being in a car crash, but odds are it's bound to happen sooner or later.

10:41 12 June 2020

In fact, there are about 6 million car accidents per year in the US, meaning most people are involved in two or three crashes in their lifetime.

 

Because being in a car crash is stressful, you should have a plan in place of things you need to do when a car accident occurs. If the car accident results in injury, there are key steps you need to follow to ensure proper coverage.

 

Keep reading to learn about the five steps to take if you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident. 

 

Make a Report

 

The very first thing to do if you've been injured in a car accident is to call local law enforcement and make a report. Without an official law enforcement report, the accident claim can seem a bit like a he-said-she-said situation.

 

An official report will get statements from both parties, all witnesses, and the reporting officer will likely also assign who was at fault. This report is a very important component in proving liability.

 

Obtain Witness Information

 

Right after the accident occurs, you should see if there are any witnesses who have stopped. If you are able to, try to speak with them and get their contact information.

 

Sometimes it can take a little while for law enforcement to arrive on the scene, and these witnesses might not wait until they do. By getting their contact info, you are ensuring that the officer reporting the accident can get their side of the story too. 

 

Seek Care Immediately 

 

If you think you may have suffered an injury from a car accident, no matter how minuscule it may seem, try to seek out care immediately. If you wait to seek out care, insurance companies will use this against you to try to argue that the accident didn't cause your injury.

 

The sooner you get medical attention, the sooner your injury is documented, which can help your case in the long run.

 

Record Your Injury in Detail

 

After a car accident, things can seem like a bit of blur and you may feel mentally drained. Try your best to overcome this when receiving medical attention for your injuries so that you can describe them with as much detail as possible.

 

Your medical provider will be keeping a record of everything you say and the insurance companies will use this record in your claim. Any injury you complain of that is not in this initial record may be hard to receive compensation for. So do your best to be thorough and descriptive when speaking to your medical provider. 

 

Obtain an Attorney

 

If you were injured in a car accident, you should speak to an attorney about representing you.

 

Attorneys, unlike insurance companies, have your best interest at heart. They will be there to answer all of your questions on what further steps you need to take to ensure you are taken care of.

 

Following Protocol When Injured in a Car Accident

 

If you've been injured in a car accident, be sure to follow these five steps. By having this plan in mind, you will be prepared to deal with an accident when it occurs.

 

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