Car accidents are terrifying, especially when they end in serious injury to you or a loved one. In some cases, involved motorists are unconscious, incapacitated, or in critical emergency situations, leaving them unable to take any purposeful action while they wait for emergency services to arrive.
However, a car accident survivor can often safely use their phone or ask an uninjured companion or bystander to use a cell phone and begin taking steps to help protect themselves and their loved ones, both physically and financially beginning in the moments after the accident. These steps can help make the recovery process easier. For legal assistance, contact our Westminster car accident attorneys at Ciancio Ciancio Brown, P.C.
Steps to Take At the Scene of a Westminster Car Accident
Immediately after an accident, it’s critical to find your cell phone and call 911 if your phone is operational and no one else has already called to report the crash. You should also apply reasonable first-aid and comfort to injury victims within your ability. Then, use your phone or someone else’s to do the following only when safe:
- Take photos of the damaged vehicles
- Take photos of the accident scene, including anything relevant to the accident such as skid marks, traffic signs, and debris on the road
- Photograph any visible injuries
- Add the contact names of all involved drivers
- Add the contact names of any eyewitnesses
- Record what you recall about the moments leading up to the accident and the accident itself while it’s fresh in your mind (trauma often fades memories later)
Recording the names of eyewitnesses is critical when accidents occur in places without traffic cameras or nearby security cameras, but eyewitnesses sometimes exit the scene before leaving their names with police officers.
It’s important to avoid saying anything about the accident that could be construed as admitting fault. Unfortunately, even an “I’m sorry” can be used against your compensation claim, even if you only meant that you were sorry that someone was hurt or that the accident occurred at all.
What to Do After a Car Accident In Westminster
It’s always crucial to go directly to a hospital or urgent care center after an accident or as soon as possible following the accident. If you don’t ride in an ambulance, then make arrangements for transportation to the hospital directly from the accident scene. This ensures that you receive the emergency medical treatment you need and provides indisputable evidence that your injuries occurred in the accident.
At the hospital, ask for a thorough medical evaluation as well as treatment for your emergency injuries. This helps medical providers to identify injuries with delayed symptom presentation, such as whiplash, and even dangerous traumatic brain injuries. Ask for a detailed medical report with your doctor’s treatment recommendations listed as well as your prognosis for recovery.
Be sure to report the car or motorcycle accident to your insurance company and request a copy of your police report.
Reach Out to A Colorado Car Accident Lawyer Before Accepting an Early Settlement Offer
An at-fault driver’s auto insurance provider often quickly offers a settlement to an injury victim. This early offer is intentionally made before you know the full extent of the physical and economic damages you’re facing. Early settlement offers are usually for far less than the full value of your claim.
Never accept an early settlement offer before speaking to a personal injury attorney. Accepting the settlement requires signing away your right to file a lawsuit. Instead, speak to a car accident attorney soon after your accident and then direct all communication with the insurance company to your lawyer.