Most drivers wind up in at least one car accident during their many years of driving privately owned cars and commercial vehicles. Unfortunately, injuries commonly occur during car accidents. The faster the rate of travel when the collision occurs, the more likely it will cause injuries. You might wonder what to do if you are injured in a car accident. Here’s a quick rundown on how to handle it.
Get Medical Help as Soon as Possible
You should obtain medical attention right away after an accident. If your injury is obvious and severe, you should go to the nearest emergency room for diagnosis and treatment. Doing so will help a car accident attorney in Michigan motorists retain to show car accidents caused their injuries. Even if you think your injury is just a minor one, you should get medical help as soon as possible to diagnose your condition and ensure you are in reasonably good health. Some injuries are latent, like head injuries and whiplash injuries, and take several hours or even several days to fully reveal themselves.
Call 911 for a Police Response
Whenever someone is injured or killed or when any property damage totals $1,000 or more, the accident must be reported to the police. A responding police officer can interview the drivers and any pedestrians who might be involved. The officer might determine if one or more drivers should be tested for drugs or alcohol and ticket any drivers who obviously violated the law. If it’s obvious one driver violated the other’s right-of-way, the ticket could show who caused the accident and is liable.
Exchange Insurance and Contact Information
Unless you are seriously injured and incapacitated by the accident, you should try to exchange insurance and contact information with any other drivers. Exchanging information shows you have at least the minimum amount of auto insurance required by law and that you are not fleeing the scene of the accident. If there are any witnesses, you should try to get their names and exchange contact information. The witnesses might help show who or what caused the accident.
Start a Claim and Retain an Attorney
When you are physically able to do so, you need to contact your auto insurer and start the claims process for your auto insurance. You don’t have to file your claim immediately following the accident, but you should call your insurer as soon as possible. If you are in the hospital, you could have a spouse or relative contact your insurer or wait until you are physically capable of calling.
The sooner you initiate the claims process, the easier it will be to show the accident caused your injuries and any damage to your vehicle or other property. It’s also important to retain an attorney to uphold your rights and deal with the insurers and any opposing attorneys. Your attorney can help you file a strongly supported claim and obtain a fair and timely settlement.