After a car accident, the most important thing is to take care of your safety and your health. Second to that, you need to take the right actions, and avoid the wrong ones, in order to preserve your insurance claim and your legal rights. If you are seriously injured, you will need maximum compensation to cover the lifetime costs of your injuries. You may not be able to return to work or you may not be able to earn at the rate you did before. You may have life-long medical expenses and other expenses related to your injuries. Immediately after your car accident, and in the days and weeks that follow, the steps you take or fail to take can make or break your case.
Get Medical Attention
If you are not taken away from the scene by an ambulance, you will still need to get medical attention. Even if you don’t feel hurt, go get checked out. You may have serious injuries that you aren’t feeling yet because adrenaline is masking the pain or a brain injury is impairing your judgement. Serious injuries are not always visible. They can be internal. You can have soft tissue injuries or brain injuries and not experience symptoms for days or weeks. By seeking medical attention, you greatly increase the likelihood of getting these injuries documented so that you can prove they were caused by the vehicle collision.
Gather Your Own Information and Evidence
Get contact information from everyone involved. That includes the other driver, passengers, and witnesses. Get the insurance information from the other driver or drivers. Take pictures of the scene, your injuries, the damage to your vehicle, and anything else that might be relevant. Take notes about the weather and road conditions, time of day, visibility, and any hazards that may have contributed to your accident.
As soon as possible, get a copy of the police report, compare their info to yours and alert the officer if you find mistakes in the report.
Documentation
Keep all bills and receipts related to your accident and injuries and the fall-out. That includes medical bills, receipts for prescriptions and medical supplies, and receipts for other needs created by your injuries such as transportation and help around the house.
Keep a journal of how your injuries affect you, your family, your relationships, and your daily life.
If you have been seriously injured in a Maryland car accident, please, call experienced car accident attorney Patrick D. Troxler, Esq., at 301-709-7195 today or email us right away to schedule your free consultation.
