#1 What is the most important thing to do immediately after a car accident?

QUESTION: What is the most important thing to do immediately after a car accident?

ANSWER: First off, it’s important to keep all the information about the person who caused the collision: driver’s name, phone number, address, car insurance carrier and policy number, and driver’s license number. You’ll also want to keep any contact info for passengers or witnesses. And, most importantly, you’ll want to backup any information you gather. Secondly is getting seen immediately by a medical provider to ensure you recover fully, as quickly as possible, and receive fair compensation through your insurance carrier.

What is the most important thing to do immediately after a car accident?

There are actually two things.

First, keep all the information you have about the person who caused the collision, including the driver’s name, phone number, address, car insurance carrier and policy number, and driver’s license number if possible. If there were other passengers in the car or witnesses to the accident, keep their names and contact information along with photos of the cars involved in the accident, the scene of the collision, and any other important information and details about the car accident.

It’s also best to keep a backup copy of all the information in a safe place. We tend to store information on our phones because it’s convenient. However, if you lose your phone or if it stops working for some reason, you can lose the critical information about your auto accident you will likely need later.

It’s amazing how often it makes a difference in a personal injury claim. Even if the other person you were involved in the car accident with admits they were at fault, sometimes they change their story after they talk with their own insurance company.

We see it often that the information, photos, and details about a client’s accident end up making a difference in your claim.

The second important thing to do as soon as possible after a collision is to be examined by a medical provider and get the medical treatment you need for your injuries. For the benefit of your recovery and to protect your personal injury claim, do not delay being seen and evaluated by a healthcare professional.

Often, when we talk to people who have been injured in a car accident they will say, “Well I thought everything was going to be fine. I figured the pain and discomfort I was feeling would go away”. Then five, six, or even seven weeks later they finally see a medical provider.

The problem is that the time that elapses between when the auto accident happened and when you’re seen by a medical provider and begin being treated for your injuries can impact being able to use your PIP benefits for your treatment. Delaying being evaluated by a doctor can even harm your personal injury claim.

Both your insurance company — who administers your PIP benefits and the insurance company for the person who caused the accident will often say, “Well if you were really hurt, you would’ve seen a doctor sooner. Something else must have happened to make you finally see your medical provider.”

Remember to find a second, safe place to store the important details about your auto accident — and as soon as possible after the collision, get evaluated by a healthcare professional, and get the medical treatment you need so you can have a full recovery, as quickly as possible.

Whether you’re our client or not, we want to be a bridge of support for you.

We’ve developed a robust library of articles and videos organized into four topics which include our responses to the personal injury claim-related questions we’re asked most often.

• Top 10 Personal Injury Claim Mistakes to Avoid
• What You Need to Know About Your Claim
• How Are My Medical Bills & Wage Loss Paid
• How to Prepare for Your Independent Medical Exam

The articles provide advice and guidelines to help you navigate each phase of the personal injury claims process. Whether we represent you or not, we are passionate about helping you protect your rights, you receiving the medical care you need to recover from your injuries, and having the information you need to avoid mistakes that can harm your personal injury claim.