I was driving down the freeway after a long day at work when a drunk driver going 80 MPH swerved into my lane. I tried to maintain control of my car as I could feel the wheels losing touch with the pavement. My car rolled twice and crumpled against the guard rail. I have major injuries to my back, several fractured ribs, and I may have suffered a concussion in the car accident. What do I do after a car accident like this?
Motor vehicle accidents can be traumatic, life changing events that if not handled with the proper care and expertise, can negatively impact the rest of the victim’s life. That is why it is absolutely critical that the victims of automobile accidents follow these steps to minimize recovery time and maximize the compensation for injuries sustained in the accident.
- Guarantee your safety by turning on your hazard lights and staying in your car until all traffic has cleared the scene of the accident. If you suspect that you have sustained a spinal or back injury, remain secured in the car and contact the paramedics for immediate medical attention. Often times, victims of car crashes exit their vehicle and sustain further injury from another motorist or themselves. This can increase your recovery time and keep you from enjoying your life.
- Collect Personal Information from all parties involved; this includes contact and insurance information. Contact information as well as testimonies from witnesses of the car crash is extremely useful in giving the jury or insurance adjusters a better understanding of how the car accident took place. An experienced car accident attorney can use witness testimonies to help you recover the compensation you deserve following a car crash. You should not contact the opposing party’s insurance carrier without first consulting with a top notch auto accident attorney. Insurance adjusters are not looking to give you the compensation you need to complete your recovery.
- Seek Medical Attention for all injuries sustained in the motor vehicle accident. If you do not receive timely medical care for injury in a car accident, then your recovery may take longer and the value of your claim may decrease. Well seasoned motor vehicle accident attorneys are connected to some of the best medical facilities around, so contacting a local automobile accident attorney for a referral may be useful for further treatment.
- Retain a Car Accident Attorney to represent you in your personal injury claim. Often, victims of motor vehicle accidents attempt to pursue the claim on their own, only to find themselves in a deeper hole than they found themselves in originally. Determining the value of an automobile accident claim without the expertise and experience of a motor vehicle accident lawyer can be nearly impossible. Between assessing future medical expenses and lost wages, along with the potential for in home care, the value of an auto accident claim should be calculated by an attorney with years of experience.
