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What To Do After A Car Accident

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What To Do After A Car Accident

If you have been in a rear-end accident, there are certain steps that you should take. In the following paragraphs, we will discuss what to do after a car accident and how a car accident attorney with Cantor, Grana, Buckner, & Bucci may be able to help you obtain compensation if the accident was not your fault.

In many instances, people don’t know what they’re entitled to until they speak with an attorney about their rights. Please contact our law firm as soon as possible for a free evaluation of your case and to learn more about how we may be of assistance.

car accident scene

Check for Injuries

The first thing you should do after a car accident is check for injuries. People often don’t realize they’re injured until later, so it’s important to get checked out by a doctor. Rear-end collisions can be especially dangerous, leading to neck injuries that often don’t show symptoms for several days afterward.

Get Medical Assistance as Soon as You Can

If you are injured, seek medical attention right away. If you are able to, document your injuries as soon as possible. Take pictures of your injuries and keep track of any treatment or medication that you are prescribed. Keep copies of medical bills, accident reports, and pay stubs to use as evidence later on if you need to file a claim for compensation with the insurance company or your own attorney.

It’s very important to note that getting medical help is important for your health and your case. The insurance claims process can be very difficult. If you don’t get medical attention after an auto accident, that could lead to your claim being denied – even if the accident was the other driver’s fault.

medical assistance after a car accident

Secure Children, Pets, the Elderly, and the Disabled

If you have children, pets, the elderly, or disabled passengers in your car, be sure to secure them properly after the accident. Make sure they are not in further danger and are out of harm’s way.

Get Your Vehicle Off of the Road if Possible

If you can, turn on your hazard lights and move your car off the road and onto a side street. If someone is blocking traffic or another accident occurs because one party has not moved their vehicle yet, this could create additional liability, which can come back up in court later on.

Move your vehicle if you’ve been rear-ended or been involved in any other type of accident. If you can’t, call roadside assistance as soon as possible so they can send a tow truck to your vehicle location.

Document the Scene of the Accident

Before you do anything, take out your phone and take pictures of the accident scene. Document the scene by taking photos of all damage done to both cars, any other property damage that has occurred, and any skid marks made by your car or other vehicles.

woman on phone after car accident

Call the Police and Report What Happened

If any injuries or damage are done to the cars, you will want to call the police and report what happened. A police officer will come out and document the accident scene, take witness statements, and determine who is at fault. The subsequent police report could be a powerful piece of evidence to help prove your case should you encounter resistance with your insurance claim against the other driver.

Get the badge number of the officer who appears at the scene of the accident, as well as their name and any other identifying information. Try to obtain a copy of the police report at a later date, or have your attorney do it. This will be invaluable as you progress through the claims process.

Gather Information from Other Drivers Involved

If any other drivers are involved in the accident, get their contact information, including name, address, phone number, driver’s license number, and date of birth. Also, get information on their insurer because you’ll likely be making an auto insurance claim. This information will be needed later on in your accident claim.

How to Talk to the Other Driver Involved in the Accident

If you are able to, remain calm and try to talk with the other driver involved. Be honest about what happened but do not admit fault for accident or things that may incriminate yourself later during the insurance claim process.

In many accident claims involving injuries, the other driver is often under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If you have any reason to suspect that’s the case, it will be a good idea to call the police immediately. If you wait too long and other drivers try to leave an accident scene before you get their information, it could be more difficult to track them down and file a claim against them.

Keep Track of All Expenses Related to the Accident

Throughout the entire accident process, keep track of all expenses related to the accident. This includes medical bills, car repairs, rental cars, and any other costs. Whether you’ve been rear-ended or been in another type of accident, keeping all documents related to your damages will help prove your case.

medical expenses from car accident, medical treatment

Make an Accident Claim with Your Insurance Company and the Other Driver’s Insurance Agent

If you’re injured during the accident it is important to contact your insurance provider and make an accident claim. If you are making a claim against another driver’s insurance policy, talk to an attorney with Cantor, Grana, Buckner, & Bucci first. We’ll handle all communications with any insurance providers, so you don’t have to.

Once you have reported the accident to the police and your insurance professional, they will start an investigation into what happened. Be sure to keep all of your accident-related documents handy, as you will need to provide them to your insurance company.

It is important to remember that many insurers will use anything you say against you in court. That’s why it’s always best to speak with a Cantor, Grana, Buckner, & Bucci accident lawyer before making contact with an insurance company.

You need to prepare yourself for the possibility that the insurance company may deny your claim, even when faced with strong evidence on your behalfs, such as the accident report and more. Cantor, Grana, Buckner, & Bucci will be ready if this happens. Our attorneys will be well prepared to make a convincing argument on your behalf, backed by solid proof.

Do Not Post Pictures or Comments to Social Media

It is important that you do not discuss the accident on social media. This includes discussing how serious your injuries are and whether another driver’s negligence caused them.

If there are pictures of the accident scene on social media before an accident claim is filed, it can be difficult to prove who is at fault. A Cantor, Grana, Buckner, & Bucci accident lawyer can help you deal with any social media postings related to the accident.

Contact an Attorney

If you have been in a car accident that was due to the negligence of another driver, it is important to contact an attorney with Cantor, Grana, Buckner, & Bucci. Please contact our law firm today to learn more about what we may be able to do for you.

An accident attorney can help you ensure that your rights are protected, and they will be able to answer any questions or concerns that you may have about the accident claim process.

personal injury lawyer consulting with injured client

Determining Fault in a Collision

One of the first things your Cantor, Grana, Buckner, & Bucci accident lawyer will do is investigate to determine who is at fault in your accident. For example, in a rear-end collision, the driver who hit the car in front of them is typically at fault. There are a few exceptions to this rule, but it is generally true that the person who rear-ended another car is considered at fault.

If a police accident report was written, the accident lawyer would review it to ensure that proper procedures were followed and all procedures in your accident claim are being followed correctly. This includes following up with any witnesses who may have been involved or spoken to about what happened during the rear-end collision.

The accident lawyer will also help determine if any additional parties are involved in your claims, such as insurance adjusters denying your claim or another driver’s insurance policy refusing to pay for damages their client caused during the accident.

If that happens, your Cantor, Grana, Buckner, & Bucci attorney, as you learned earlier, will be ready to defeat that insurance company in court.

How to Avoid Being in a Rear End Collision

There are a few ways to avoid rear-end collisions. Make sure that you always follow the speed limit and don’t tailgate other drivers. You should also try to allow a space cushion of at least two seconds between your car and the car in front of you. Following too closely is the main cause of most rear-end accidents, which oftentimes lead to devastating physical injuries.

Maintaining a safe distance could make all the difference between avoiding a rear-end accident completely, or having a minor fender bender rather than a horrible collision.

How Our Personal Injury Law Firm May Be Able to Help After a Car Accident

If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident that was the other driver’s fault, it is important to contact the personal injury law firm of Cantor, Grana, Buckner, & Bucci as soon as possible. We can help ensure all procedures are properly followed during the accident claim process and advise on how best to proceed with a successful accident settlement.

Our lawyers will work hard to get you the compensation you deserve for your accident-related expenses and injuries. We understand that being in an accident can be a very traumatic experience, which is why we are here to help guide you through every step of the process. Contact us today for a free consultation.

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