What to Do after You Have Been in a Car Accident
Protect Your Legal Rights after a Car Accident
When you have been injured a motor vehicle accident caused by the carelessness or negligence of another person, you want to take all the right steps to maximize your chances of getting full and fair compensation for all your losses. Here’s what we recommend:
Get the Medical Care You Need
The most important thing is to immediately seek medical attention for all your injuries. If you cannot leave your vehicle under your own power, or if you experience a lot of pain, stay where you are (unless there’s a risk of further injury by remaining in your car). This is not the time to be strong or be a hero. You have been hurt and you need to get all the medical attention you require. Emergency responders will know what is best for you. Let them determine if you need to go to the hospital by ambulance, or if you need a stretcher or other types of assistance.
When you get medical treatment, be sure to tell doctors and nurses about everything that seems out of the ordinary. Don’t focus on the most obvious injuries (the broken leg) and ignore other trauma (sprains, strains and muscle pulls). Ask medical professionals to document everything in writing.
If you are able to leave the scene under your own power, drive yourself to the emergency room or to an urgent care facility, or immediately schedule an appointment with your personal physician. The longer you wait, the greater the risk that defense attorneys will allege that your injuries were not a result of the auto accident.
Gather as Much Information as You Can
To assist legal counsel, try to gather as much contact information as you can from anyone who was involved in, or who witnessed, the accident. This includes name, address, phone number, e-mail address and insurance provider. If you can’t do it yourself, ask someone you trust to do so. Don’t rely on police reports.
Police often get less than thorough information about a motor vehicle accident. If your phone has a camera, take pictures of everything—the damage to vehicles, the road conditions at the time of the accident, any injuries you suffered, an road signs or other unique factors.
Hire an Attorney
Witnesses move and memories fade. The sooner you retain a lawyer to protect your interests, the easier it will be to preserve critical evidence.
Contact Our Office
To set up an appointment, call us in Haddonfield at 856-429-5005 or in Woodbury at 856-845-2555. We can also be reached in Philadelphia at 215-563-2150 or by e-mail. For clients with personal injury or workers’ compensation claims, we offer a free initial consultation, and will represent you on a contingency basis, only charging attorney fees if we recover compensation for you.
Our offices are open weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Weekend and evening appointments may be arranged upon request. We will also come to your home or the hospital, if necessary.
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