What to Do After a Car Accident

A car accident can be one of life’s most stressful events. In the United States, an accident occurs every 10 seconds. Tragically, there are too many people who lose their lives in car wrecks each year. With such alarmingly high numbers, it’s beneficial to know exactly how to handle an accident. A Philadelphia car accident lawyer at The Cochran Firm can help you fight for compensation.

Steps to Take After a Car Accident

Here are the steps you should take immediately after an accident:

Move to a Safe Area – It’s best to stay calm and assess your situation. If the accident was minor and you aren’t injured, then move the cars out of traffic and to a safe location.
Check on Yourself and Others Involved – Check to see if you or anyone involved, including passengers and pedestrians, needs medical attention. Even minor symptoms, such as dizziness or muscle aches, should be assessed by a medical professional.
Call the Police – Even if the accident is minor, it’s important to contact the police. Furthermore, their report will come in handy when dealing with your insurance company.
Exchange Information – Write down the names of the other drivers and passengers, license plate numbers, and insurance information. Also, make a note of the date, time, and location. Ultimately, the more information you can gather, the better. Get contact information from any witnesses and write down the names of the police officers who arrive on the scene.
See If There Are Any Witnesses – Get contact information from any witnesses, including name, address, and telephone numbers, when possible.
Document the Scene – Take pictures and video, if possible, of the damage to the cars and the scene of the accident. Actually, the more, the better. They will be helpful when dealing with your insurance company. Remember, a camera phone can be very valuable in collecting photographs of insurance information, vehicle license plates, driver’s licenses, property damage, and the location of the vehicles on the roadway.
Contact Your Insurance – Check your insurance card and contact your agent. Make sure to closely review your policy so you make sure you’re getting the proper assistance. Also, remember nobody plans to have an accident. In fact, it is never too early to check the coverage provided in your insurance policy. It is best to maintain Full Tort coverage (“Full Coverage” is not the same as Full Tort) as well as Uninsured Motorist and Underinsured Motorist benefits.

At any stage of this process, know that you are not alone. We encourage you to contact our car accident attorneys as soon as it is safe for you to do so. That is especially important if you think you could be accused of reckless behavior or you wish to update the police report due to an error. Let our legal team handle the process for you. We can even file your insurance claim for you.

Avoid Posting on Social Media

Do your best to refrain from posting on social media about your car accident in Philadelphia. Do not post pictures or have a discussion with anyone about what happened. Also, avoid sharing information about the crash, like where it happened, who was involved, and the injuries you suffered. You should also avoid sharing pictures of your injury.

If you continue to use social media after suffering an injury in a car accident, be careful what you post that is unrelated to the crash. Your posts can still have an impact on your case, especially if you are supposed to be recovering from an injury. For example, do not post pictures of yourself playing a basketball game or a video showing you running around with your kids. While these types of posts might seem innocent, they can easily be used by the other attorney to discredit your injuries and prevent you from recovering compensation.

Follow Your Doctor’s Orders Explicitly

Do not deviate from the orders given you after the crash. If you are to be on bed rest, be on bed rest and do not go to work. If you are to attend physical therapy, attend every appointment until you are cleared by the physical therapist. If you have been prescribed medication, continue to take it until the doctor says you can stop.

Do not miss any follow-up appointments with your doctor. Skipping appointments for no apparent reason can lead to the dismissal of your case. The other attorney can again argue that either your injuries are not serious enough to be compensated or you simply do not care about them.

Avoid Talking to Insurance Adjusters

One of the worst things you can do for your claim is talk to an insurance adjuster for the other driver’s insurance company. They will do their best to get you to admit that you were at fault in the crash, which can be the basis for their denying your claim and your failing to recover compensation. Let your attorney handle all communication with the insurance company.

The Importance of Working with a Car Accident Attorney

Knowing what to do after a car accident can help you to get the care you need, but do not stop there. Insurance companies will do all they can to reduce what they pay you – and they make the process difficult. You may have to go to court to fight for the compensation you deserve.

When you allow the car accident attorneys at The Cochran Firm in Philadelphia to help you, you put the power in your hands.

Let us try to work with the insurance company or other responsible parties to settle the dispute out of court, often settling it faster and at a better outcome for you.
Enable our attorneys to determine what all of your losses are. This may include far more than you expect, including losses related to lost time at work, long-term recovery, medical bills, and pain and suffering.
Expect our team to fight for punitive damages if the situation is appropriate, especially in cases of intentional injury or reckless behavior. We aim to maximize the compensation you receive.
Let us prepare you for what to expect in court. We remain by your side throughout the legal process. You do not have to be worried about what to expect.
Expect us to represent you to the fullest extent. We do all we can to ensure that your rights are protected, which means we will present all available evidence in your case to prove what you are owed. Our goal is to be clear on how this accident has impacted you.

Hiring an attorney protects your right to compensation. It allows our legal team to guide you in getting the most compensation possible. Even more importantly, we work closely with you to minimize any risk that an insurance company will try to blame you for what has occurred or otherwise put your case at risk.

Be Open and Honest With Your Car Accident Attorney

Be as open and honest with your Philadelphia car accident attorney as possible. Doing so will help them build a case on your behalf in the pursuit of compensation. Answer their questions as clearly as possible and with as much information as you can provide. Do not hide anything from your attorney, even if you think it will derail your chances of recovering compensation. You want the attorney to provide you with an honest assessment of your case, and they cannot do that without your being honest.

Set Up a Free Consultation to Discuss Your Case with Us Now

If you’re injured due to the other driver’s negligence, you should contact a lawyer. Above all, insurance companies only have their best interests in mind. They will do their best to settle with as little compensation as possible. The Cochran Firm Philadelphia will fight for you to give you the settlement you deserve. Call us today at 800-969- 4400.