11 Things to Do if You're in a Serious Car Accident

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If you're in a serious accident, you likely won't be thinking clearly. Nobody can. car accident attorneys tell us that you may be in shock and not even realize it. Our hope is that this article has caught your eye and you remember just a few things.

Of course, this list assumes you can take action. If you are too injured to act, focus on your own wellbeing and safety only.

1. Get to safety.
2. Call 911.
   • The emergency operator will send an ambulance and/or paramedics to examine and treat all those involved in the accident. Remember that you and others can be injured without realizing it.
   • They police will also be sent to the scene, which is a good thing. Police will collect evidence, document what happened, and interview witnesses.
   • The emergency operator will also dispatch the fire department, which will take care of any leaking gasoline, fires, or other dangerous conditions.
   • Emergency personnel will direct other traffic away from the accident scene to avoid further injuries.
3. Call a qualified car accident attorney.
   • Calling a lawyer may sound premature, but injury firms send investigators to the scene of a serious accident as soon as you make the call.
   • We suggest that, along with your insurance company's and doctor's phone numbers, you put the number of your personal injury attorney in your cell phone ahead of time. You can find and select a personal injury lawyer through our free and private website, Attorneys.ORG.
4. Use your cell phone to take photographs of the scene, including: roadway conditions, roadway signs and traffic signals, damage to cars, weather conditions, injuries, anything blocking the road, skid marks, and the like. Before the days of cell phone cameras, the advice was to keep a disposable camera in your glove box. Go ahead and do this if you don't have a cell phone with a camera.
5. Jot down the names of witnesses to the accident as well as their addresses and phone numbers.
6. Write down, take a photo of, or scan driver's licenses, insurance cards, car registrations, license plate numbers, and the make, model, and year of all cars involved in the accident.
7. Sketch out the scene. Indicate what happened, where include notes about signage, debris on the roadway, weather, and anything else you observe.
8. Collect any physical evidence that could have lead to the car wreck.
9. Call your own insurance company and report the accident. DO NOT provide any other statement. DO NOT LET THEM TAPE YOU.
10. Even if you don't need medical treatment at the accident scene, go get checked out by your doctor afterwards. Often pain takes several days to reach its maximum as the body responds to trauma. Medical documentation is essential to any personal injury case.
11. If you didn't call a car accident attorney from the accident scene, go ahead and make the call afterwards. Don't worry about not having a case, if you don't have a case, the PI law office will tell you that. You're not wasting their time. When you call, you'll receive a free case evaluation and find out:
    • Do I have a case?
    • How much is my case worth?
    • Do I need a lawyer?
    • How much does a personal injury lawyer cost?

If you are ever in a car accident, we hope this article will provide valuable guidance.