Right after a car accident, it’s hard to think clearly. But what you do, or don’t do, in those first moments can change everything about your case. That’s why we put together answers to the most important “what now?” questions our clients ask after a crash.
What is the most important thing to do after you’ve been in an accident? The first thing that you should always do is call the police. If they’re not willing to make a report, then you want to make sure that you document everything. Take photos of the vehicles, the insurance cards, the license plates, and the scene. Look around for witnesses—did anyone see the accident who can help you? Are there any cameras nearby where you can collect footage?
After that, the most important thing is to get medical treatment. Even if you don’t feel seriously injured, you should still get checked out. Often, adrenaline masks pain at the scene, and injuries can show up later. Documenting your injuries and symptoms early is one of the most important parts of bringing a successful claim.
Why is it so important to talk to an attorney immediately after getting in an accident? There are so many reasons an attorney can help you, but the number one reason is dealing with insurance companies.
The insurance companies are not always going to be on your side. They’re going to look for the best way to pay out the least amount of money, and they record everything you say.
That’s why you have to be very careful in how you speak with them. Having an attorney beside you to help you know what to say, how to say it, and how to protect yourself later is extremely important.
1. Not staying at the scene and collecting evidence will destroy your case. Walk around, talk to witnesses, see if there are video cameras on houses, Ring cameras, or businesses that captured the crash. Get the other driver’s information and write it down, including their plate number.
2. Not taking photos is a big mistake. At the scene, taking photos and videos can help your case immensely if the insurance company is denying liability, because it can show where the vehicles came to final rest. It may show who violated whose right-of-way. It may show where the vehicles hit. It will show the damage to the other vehicle. Sometimes there won’t be damage to your vehicle, but the other vehicle will be destroyed, so it helps prove how hard the impact was.
3. Another mistake that people make is not keeping the evidence. Getting rid of your cell phone, deleting the photos you took, or failing to talk to people at the scene and get their contact information to give to your attorney later can make it much harder to document what happened and prove that you weren’t at fault or that you were injured.
If you’ve been in a crash, don’t risk your case by making one of these mistakes. Contact our Arizona car accident lawyers today to protect your rights and start building your claim.
Why is it so important to get a police report? It helps have documentation of what occurred and who was involved. A lot of times, if you just take a picture of the person’s license plate or get their phone number, that’s not enough information to find out who their insurance is or if there’s insurance coverage.
The police will take all of the information and give you a driver’s exchange that includes:
– The other driver’s phone number
– Their name
– Their address
– Their driver’s license number
– The VIN number of their vehicle
– Their license plate number
– Their insurance information
This ensures everything is properly documented. The officer will also record what happened in the accident, what both drivers said, witness information and contact details, and whether any cameras captured the incident.
Officers also wear body-worn cameras, which can provide footage to your attorney or insurance company showing exactly what happened at the scene, and how the vehicles came to rest, the damages, and each driver’s statements. This prevents anyone from changing their story later.
A lot of times, when you’re in a car accident, you don’t feel symptoms right away because your adrenaline is running high and you’re nervous and scared. Then later, you go home, and your symptoms start to develop, and they may develop slowly over time.
But the longer you wait to see a doctor, the more likely it is that the insurance company is going to say that something happened between the car accident and the doctor’s visit that caused your injuries. They’re not going to believe that you were just at home, hoping you would get better.
The insurance company is always looking for someone else to blame for your injuries, whether they say it’s pre-existing or caused by something after the accident.
If you don’t go to the doctor right away, document your symptoms, and treat as your doctors tell you to until you feel better, the insurance company is going to argue that the car accident wasn’t the cause of your injuries, and they won’t pay you for them.
No, it’s not too late. Depending on the state, you still have time to bring a claim because the statute of limitations varies by state.
In Arizona, you usually have two years to bring a claim against the other driver. However, it’s still very important to get medical treatment as soon as possible, even if you didn’t go to the hospital from the scene or that same day. Early treatment helps document your symptoms and clearly connect your injuries to the crash, which strengthens your case.
Clients often ask why they need an MRI after an auto accident if they already had CT scans at the hospital. The hospital is looking for traumatic injuries that need urgent medical attention, things like broken bones, internal bleeding, or conditions requiring surgery.
CT scans are great for detecting fractures, but they don’t show herniated discs, nerve damage, or spinal cord issues, that are the kinds of injuries that can cause long-term pain and complications.
That’s why getting an MRI after a car accident is so important. It can reveal hidden injuries that a CT scan might miss and help ensure you get the treatment and compensation you deserve.
People should make sure that all of their symptoms are documented in their medical records, even if you think it’s not related.
A lot of clients don’t realize that tingling in their toes or in their fingers could be coming from an injury to their spinal column or a herniated disc. They don’t tell the doctors because they think, “Oh, I just slept funny, and that’s why my arm is tingling.”
But it’s important to tell the doctors everything you’re experiencing. If you weren’t experiencing a symptom before your injury and now you are, it’s probably not a coincidence, but it’s likely related.
The more you tell your doctors, the better your records will be documented, and the easier it’s going to be for the doctors to help you and figure out what’s wrong.
My car is in the tow yard, and the other insurance company isn’t accepting fault. Can I leave it there? No. You have a duty to do what is called mitigate your damages, which means that you have to reduce them as much as you are able.
So you either need to call your insurance company and ask them if they’ll get it out of the tow yard for you, or you need to get it out of the tow yard and store it somewhere. Otherwise, the tow yard may take possession of your vehicle, and you will not get compensated for your damages.
Still figuring out what to do after your crash? Visit our car accident lawyers page to see how we can help you get answers, support, and compensation. Or call us for your free initial consultation.