Steps to Take After a Crash: Advice from a Fishkill Car Accident Attorney
Being involved in a car crash is a scary, stressful experience. By knowing beforehand what to do and how to act, steps to handle a car accident effectively you can avoid being overwhelmed in the confusion after a wreck and help protect your interests. At Michael A. Fakhoury, ESQ., PC, we are passionate about providing educational services, and we have guided hundreds of clients through the legal process and steps to handle a car accident effectively.
If you are involved in a car accident, stay calm and follow these steps: Steps to handle a car accident effectively
Step 1: Fishkill Car Accident Attorney Tip – Check for Injuries Immediately
Immediately after an accident, evaluate yourself for injuries. If you are seriously injured, stay calm and try not to move. Call 911 or tell someone else to call. If you are not injured, check your passengers and make sure everyone else is safe and unharmed. If anyone is injured, it is best to wait for help to come and avoid moving them.
Step 2: Move to Safety – Critical Advice from a Fishkill Car Accident Attorney
Steps to handle a car accident effectively, If possible, move to the sidewalk or the side of the road. In addition, if your car is creating a hazard in the middle of the road, and it is still safe to drive, move it to the side. However, it you are seriously injured and the car is not movable, stay where you are and wait for the police and ambulance to arrive. It is important to not leave the scene of an accident until you file a police report. If you leave, you may be charged with a hit and run.
Step 3: Seek Medical Care – Protect Your Health and Legal Rights
If you are injured, it is important to seek treatment right away. If you wait a few days to get medical attention, insurance companies may try to say that your injuries were not caused by the accident. Thus, you should be treated as soon as possible after the accident, and request copies of your medical records to build your case.
Step 4: Exchange Info – A Fishkill Car Accident Attorney’s Must-Do List
If you and your passengers are uninjured, the next step is to exchange information with all other drivers involved in the crash. Write down names, contact information, insurance company policy numbers, and drivers’ licenses. You should also write down the make, model, and color of all vehicles involved.
Step 5: Document Everything – Why It Matters to Your Fishkill Injury Case
If possible, take pictures and video recordings of the scene. Write down the time of day, location, and weather conditions of the incident. Make sure to take pictures of the damage, and show it from different angles. In addition, you should take pictures of the license plates of the vehicles involved, and request contact information of any witnesses.
Step 6: Work with Police – Tips from a Fishkill Car Accident Attorney
Once the police arrive, you will be asked to give a statement and fill out a police report of the incident. Be honest and thorough with your answers, but don’t incriminate yourself. It is rare that one person is 100% responsible for an accident, and if you admit guilt, insurance companies can use that against you. Steps to handle a car accident effectively, get the badge number and name of all responding officers and request a copy of the accident report to use in your case.
Step 7: Call a Fishkill Car Accident Attorney Before the Insurance Company
It is important to contact a lawyer right away. We can provide legal advice as you contact your insurance company, steps to handle a car accident effectively and help gather all the information you need to build your case. Our firm has represented hundreds of clients in car accident cases, and we know that insurance companies will do everything they can to avoid paying you compensation. We can build your case, provide legal advice, and walk you through the process as you seek a favorable solution.
Passionate Representation for Your Personal Injury Case
Michael A. Fakhoury, ESQ., PC tenaciously represents clients who have been injured in car crashes. We strive to provide timely, efficient legal services, and our Fishkill car accident attorney has nearly 20 years of experience. We can provide knowledgeable representation and discuss your options. Whatever your situation, our firm can work hard to aggressively represent your case from start to finish.
Contact our firm today to schedule a free consultation and to get started pursuing your car accident claim.
