Car accidents are scary and overwhelming. If you are involved in a collision, you may wonder what to do and where to turn. If someone else’s negligence or recklessness caused the accident, you have the right to file a claim and recover damages.
Try to stay calm at the scene and take the right steps. By using the steps here, you can gather evidence and protect your right to compensation. Be sure to contact Connecticut car accident lawyers for assistance after a car accident, too.
Contact the Police
If another person caused the accident, they might try to convince you not to contact the authorities. Do not give in to their pleas.
Even minor collisions can cause injuries like whiplash or back pain, which may result in chronic pain and significant medical costs. By calling the police, an official report about the accident will be filed and available for you to use if you file an accident claim.
Never Assume the Police Will Complete a Full Report
The police officer who comes to the accident scene may only gather some information about the accident. You should make sure you take steps to gather information too. Rather than standing around waiting for them to do the work, take photos and videos with your phone of the scene, damage to the cars, and visible injuries you sustained.
Some of the pictures you should take include the following:
- Position of all vehicles involved after the collision
- Damage to all vehicles involved in the accident
- Visible injuries
- License, insurance card, and license plate of other drivers involved
- Evidence of what happened, like skid marks or debris
Gather Witness Information
If there are witnesses at the scene or if someone came to help you after the accident, get their names and contact information. If you file a claim, having witness testimony may help prove fault.
Seek Medical Treatment
If you are involved in a minor accident and do not feel like you were hurt, you may want to put off medical treatment. This is not a good idea.
Some injuries that occur in car accidents can take hours, days, or weeks to show symptoms. They may worsen and cause serious problems and complications if you do not seek medical treatment. By seeking treatment immediately, you can receive treatment for all your car accident-related injuries.
Another reason to seek medical treatment immediately is because it will provide documentation of how severe your injuries were. It will also connect the injuries to your accident.
Contact Connecticut Car Accident Lawyers
If you are involved in a car accident, it is wise to contact Connecticut car accident lawyers as soon as possible. Having an attorney on your side and gathering evidence on your behalf will pay off in the long run. The attorney you hire can also determine the value of your claim and negotiate with the insurance company to help you get a fair settlement offer.
