Car accidents are inherently stressful events. If you become one of the roughly 4.4 million Americans who suffer an injury in a car accident every year, your stressful accident may also be incredibly painful. Fortunately, to help you manage your recovery, you may be able to pursue financial compensation from the driver who caused the collision.
You do not want the stress and pain of a serious car accident to dissuade you from taking certain steps to protect your legal rights and other interests, however. Here are four things you may want to do immediately after an accident.
1. Go to the doctor
Because of your body’s automatic stress response, you may not realize you have sustained an injury in a car accident until hours, days, or even weeks after the crash. Therefore, you should go to the doctor and ask for a comprehensive examination.
2. Document the accident scene
The best time to gather important evidence about a car accident is when you are at the accident scene. Provided you can do so without endangering yourself or others, take some photographs of the crash, vehicle damage, injuries, and other relevant details. Also, ask witnesses for their names and contact details.
3. Call the police
Regardless of what the other driver asks you to do, you should call the police to report the accident. When officers arrive, explain how the accident unfolded and ask them to write an official report.
4. Think twice before talking to insurers
An insurer may be looking for any reason to deny your claim or to offer you an unreasonably low settlement. Consequently, before talking to insurers or signing any documents, you must be sure you fully understand the consequences of your actions.
Even though the aftermath of a car accident can be stressful, the stress is not likely to last forever. With a bit of effort and some mental focus, you may improve your chances of receiving the financial compensation you deserve.