Car Accidents are always traumatic, unexpected events. Most of us experience some degree of shock, and our minds race through the incident, trying to capture the details and determine who is at fault. Keeping your cool following an accident is important, and can pay off later by providing facts and supporting documents that can be used in court in the event that your claim is escalated through the legal system.
What rights and responsibilities do you have in an auto accident? First, and foremost, you and all other parties involved must stay at the scene of the accident. If an involved driver attempts to leave try to get the license plate number, a description of the vehicle, write down the damaged area of their vehicle, a description of the driver, and any other observations. If you have a cell phone with a camera, you can take a picture. Then call 911 and report a hit and run accident. I have witnessed car accidents with hit and run, and the police were able to catch the runaway driver and direct them back to the scene of the accident.
Use caution in your movement following the accident, and note any pain or impairment. Not all injuries appear immediately. Soft tissue injury, even broken bones, have been discovered up to two weeks after an accident. Auto accidents can also affect blood pressure levels since they are a stress to the body. You may elect to visit your health care provider following the accident, but if you are experiencing pain or impairment immediately following the accident it may be wise to call 911 and receive care at the scene, such as stabilization of your spine or neck.
What happens if the at-fault driver runs, and is not found? Most insurance policies have covered for uninsured driver accidents. Call your insurance company. Many insurance companies have guidelines as to how soon they must be notified. Notice of the accident must be provided to the police as well for most accidents, with stringent timelines for reporting.
Do you need to call 911 for every accident? It is not required, but may be advised. If there is question as to the responsibility for the accident then the law enforcement agent report may support you in court as well as provide support for your injury treatment.
If you choose to collect information without the aid of law enforcement, you should collect the following information: drivers license number, name and address of each driver; witness names; phone numbers; vehicle license numbers; witness names and phone numbers; time and date of incident; location of incident. You can sketch the accident and ask all involved to initial or sign the sketch. If you have a camera, use it, taking pictures from different angles. Use caution, and never put yourself at risk in traffic.
If you are injured in an auto accident, especially with uninsured or under-insured motorists, the information you collect at the scene will pay off in the long run. Use common sense and keep your cool, and document every detail.
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