A serious car accident is one of those things we never think will happen to us until it does. Suddenly – and violently – our entire world gets altered and upended. For many victims of serious automobile accidents, their lives are divided into two distinct phases: before the crash and after.
After being seriously hurt in a car accident, your fate will depend on various factors, starting with the nature and extent of your injuries. It will also depend on what you do in the immediate aftermath of the accident. While it shouldn’t fall on the victim of a car crash to ensure everything goes smoothly, the unfortunate truth is it does.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at seven things you should do if seriously injured in a car accident:
Wait for first responders
If you are injured but still able to move and talk, calmly call 911 and tell them your location. Unless there is imminent danger, such as fire or toxic fumes, wait for first responders to arrive before getting out of your vehicle. Inexperienced efforts to extract you from the vehicle could lead to even further injuries. It could also confuse investigators attempting to piece together the cause of the accident. First responders such as paramedics, emergency medical technicians, and firefighters are expertly trained to assess and assist those hurt in car crashes, so let the professionals do their job.
File a police report
No matter what the other party tells you in regard to who is at fault and whether or not they are insured, it’s essential to file a police report as soon as possible. Law enforcement is trained to document your statement in a detailed manner. The same goes for any other party involved in the accident. Their objective collection of information will prove invaluable in the days, weeks, and months ahead.
Contact your auto insurance provider
As soon as you are healthy enough to do so, reach out to your insurance provider in order to provide them with the information they seek. However, do not under any circumstances agree to speak with the other party’s insurance provider. Save that for later.
Find a car accident lawyer
You could arguably do this before speaking to your insurance provider. It comes down to your health and ability to do so. If you have a loved one or friend who can do so, have them search for car accident lawyers in your area. The key is to find an attorney ready to take your case as soon as possible. Waiting too long will make it difficult for your lawyer to gather the evidence and other necessary information to get the best results possible.
Listen to your lawyer
We can’t emphasize enough the importance of doing exactly what your lawyer tells you. Personal injury lawyers are experts in fighting on your behalf, and what they tell you to say and do is because they know it’s the right move. If you go against your lawyer’s advice, you’re less likely to get the compensation you deserve. With this in mind, if you and your lawyer fail to see eye to eye on a regular basis to the point where you are tempted to defy their advice, you need a different lawyer. But don’t be surprised if your new lawyer offers the same suggestions!
Listen to your doctor
The other professional key to your recovery is your doctor. They will likely give you a list of do’s and don’ts, the nature of which will depend on your injuries. Defying your doctor’s orders could lead to devastating results. It could set your recovery back weeks or even months. And if the other side’s attorneys discover you defied your doctor’s orders, they could make the case that any prolonged injuries are a result of your negligence after the fact. That could mean less compensation for you.
Expect a slow-moving process
The court system moves much slower than they depict on television. Personal injury cases can take months – even years – to settle or reach a verdict. Those who aren’t prepared for the lengthy process are more likely to agree to settlement offers that are below what they’d ultimately get by waiting. They may even opt for a “need cash now” arrangement they learned about through advertisements on television, effectively denying themselves a significant sum of money they’d otherwise receive. If you’re prepared to wait a long time, you’re more likely to stick it out and ultimately end up with the compensation you deserve.
Bad car accidents are the kind of thing that always happens to somebody else. That is, until it happens to you. At that point, what you do next will prove essential to getting adequately compensated for your injuries. A life-changing accident is not something to be taken lightly. With this in mind, make sure to make the right decisions going forward.
Julie Steinbeck is a freelance writer from Florida. She enjoys writing about business, finance, health, and travel.
