What should I do after an accident?
At Koning & Jilek, P.C. we receive many phone calls from people injured in automobile collisions. One of the first questions many people ask is what they should do or what they should have done after the collision. Obviously an automobile collision is a traumatic experience that can have a devastating impact on one's life. Here are some tips about what to do after a collision. If you are injured in an automobile accident call Koning & Jilek, P.C. right away. 269-343-1500
(1)Police interaction
Call the police. If anyone is injured, when you call tell them you need medical assistance. If anyone involved seems to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, tell that to the police when you call for help.
(2) Obtain information for your insurance company.
Obtain: Full names, addresses and phone numbers of everyone involved, including drivers, passengers, pedestrians who might have been involved, and any witnesses.
(3) Gather as much information as possible
Try to find out if anyone is injured. Make as many notes as you can about the accident itself and the injuries involved. Get information about the other vehicles involved, such as license plate numbers, make and model. Obtain information about the weather and the road condition. Obtain information about the lighting outside and on (and inside) of any vehicles involved. Find out whether any of the vehicles are company-owned? Find out if any of the drivers were on-the-job at the time of the collision. Find out information about who employs anyone involved in the accident. Try to obtain the insurance status of all vehicles and persons involved. If any drivers were not the registered owners, get the registered owners' names, addresses, and phone numbers. Find out if anyone took blame for the collision. Get the names and badge numbers of any police officers who come to the scene.
(4) Call an experienced personal injury attorney right away.
You may wish to contact a personal injury attorney immediately. He or she may wish to examine the evidence at the site and gather as much information as possible. Contact Koning & Jilek, P.C. 269-343-1500. www.koningjilek.com
(5) Contact your own insurance company.
Do not delay in contacting your insurance carrier. Most insurance companies have requirements in the policy as to how quickly you must contact them, and failure to do so might mean your claim will be rejected. However be careful answering any questions or making any statements to the other drivers' insurance companies until you have consulted an attorney.
(6) Obtain necessary medical assistance
If you have been seriously injured, you will probably be taken directly to a hospital emergency room. If you are not seriously injured, however, do not assume that you are uninjured. Many injuries from vehicle crashes, like whiplash, do not show up right away. If you do begin to suffer ill effects from the crash, notify your health professional immediately, get yourself checked out, and follow the doctor's instructions as to care and follow-up. Failure to get medical care might have serious consequences if you have latent injuries that only show up 24-36 hours later. Do not neglect symptoms that are unfamiliar, or pain that appears hours later. Report any symptoms to your doctor, however slight. Serious back injuries can start out as nothing more than an aching back, but left untreated they can cause major health difficulties. Furthermore, if you do have problems your insurance company will need proof that the problems were diagnosed and treated promptly, and that the problems were related to the accident.
(7) Take photos
Take as many photos as possible of the accident site, the vehicles, and people involved, and any thing else that might have bearing on how and why the accident occurred. Take pictures of the damage done to all vehicles, license plates, evidence such as street signs or lights, skid marks, etc.
(1)Police interaction
Call the police. If anyone is injured, when you call tell them you need medical assistance. If anyone involved seems to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, tell that to the police when you call for help.
(2) Obtain information for your insurance company.
Obtain: Full names, addresses and phone numbers of everyone involved, including drivers, passengers, pedestrians who might have been involved, and any witnesses.
(3) Gather as much information as possible
Try to find out if anyone is injured. Make as many notes as you can about the accident itself and the injuries involved. Get information about the other vehicles involved, such as license plate numbers, make and model. Obtain information about the weather and the road condition. Obtain information about the lighting outside and on (and inside) of any vehicles involved. Find out whether any of the vehicles are company-owned? Find out if any of the drivers were on-the-job at the time of the collision. Find out information about who employs anyone involved in the accident. Try to obtain the insurance status of all vehicles and persons involved. If any drivers were not the registered owners, get the registered owners' names, addresses, and phone numbers. Find out if anyone took blame for the collision. Get the names and badge numbers of any police officers who come to the scene.
(4) Call an experienced personal injury attorney right away.
You may wish to contact a personal injury attorney immediately. He or she may wish to examine the evidence at the site and gather as much information as possible. Contact Koning & Jilek, P.C. 269-343-1500. www.koningjilek.com
(5) Contact your own insurance company.
Do not delay in contacting your insurance carrier. Most insurance companies have requirements in the policy as to how quickly you must contact them, and failure to do so might mean your claim will be rejected. However be careful answering any questions or making any statements to the other drivers' insurance companies until you have consulted an attorney.
(6) Obtain necessary medical assistance
If you have been seriously injured, you will probably be taken directly to a hospital emergency room. If you are not seriously injured, however, do not assume that you are uninjured. Many injuries from vehicle crashes, like whiplash, do not show up right away. If you do begin to suffer ill effects from the crash, notify your health professional immediately, get yourself checked out, and follow the doctor's instructions as to care and follow-up. Failure to get medical care might have serious consequences if you have latent injuries that only show up 24-36 hours later. Do not neglect symptoms that are unfamiliar, or pain that appears hours later. Report any symptoms to your doctor, however slight. Serious back injuries can start out as nothing more than an aching back, but left untreated they can cause major health difficulties. Furthermore, if you do have problems your insurance company will need proof that the problems were diagnosed and treated promptly, and that the problems were related to the accident.
(7) Take photos
Take as many photos as possible of the accident site, the vehicles, and people involved, and any thing else that might have bearing on how and why the accident occurred. Take pictures of the damage done to all vehicles, license plates, evidence such as street signs or lights, skid marks, etc.
Call Koning & Jilek, P.C.
269-343-1500
posted by Koning and Jilek, P.C. at
9:00 AM
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