Measures Your Personal Injury Attorney Would Want You to Take At the Scene of an Auto Accident

A car crash can leave you feeling confused and overwhelmed. As a result, many people don't know what to do immediately following an automotive accident and may make mistakes that could be detrimental to their personal injury case.

Here are a few measures your personal injury attorney would like you to do at the accident scene to ensure that you don't inadvertently jeopardize your injury case.

Call 911

Whether any of the people involved have obvious injuries or not, you should call 911 to request that law enforcement come to the scene of the accident. The assigned officer can record details about the incident and help determine who is at fault. The officer's assessment can also help undergird the assignment of fault to the other driver, making it easier for your attorney to pursue suitable compensation from the responsible insurer. 

Don't Assume Responsibility

When speaking with the police officer, or anyone else at the scene of the event, it is important to avoid assuming responsibility for the accident. In a confused state, you may not realize that a different driver was actually responsible for causing the incident. As a result, it is best to refrain from sharing unnecessary information with anyone except your personal injury attorney.

A slip of the tongue could give a reluctant insurance company the ammunition needed to fight for a reduction in your claim. 

Take Notes

As time goes by, you may forget a few details of the event and important contact information. After the accident, take time to record the names, phone numbers, and addresses of the witnesses, drivers, and passengers involved in the accident. Additionally, record the following:

• Name of the insurer of the other driver's vehicle
• Policy number of the other driver's insurance
• Driver's license numbers of all other drivers
• Description of vehicular damages
• Description of injuries
• Whether or not anyone appeared inebriated
• The accident location

If you have your cell phone handy, take pictures of the accident scene and the vehicular damage. You can even take a brief video to record the movements of the other people involved. The recording can help to show their level of apparent injury immediately following the accident.

The recorded information should be shared with your personal injury attorney and may serve as evidence in your case, especially if the testimony of the other involved parties differs from yours. 

See a Medical Professional

As soon as possible, it is best to be seen by a doctor. A physician can assess the state of your injuries, whether they are obvious or not. Frequently, soft tissue injuries are not immediately apparent. Nevertheless, a delay in your diagnosis can make your injury claim appear questionable.

If you have been involved in an automotive accident, schedule a consultation with a personal injury lawyer in your local area.