Few experiences create the mix of confusion, stress, and anxiety that results from an auto collision. We can explain your rights and options for recovering your losses.

Few experiences create the mix of confusion, stress, and anxiety that results from an auto collision. So much happens in the moments and days that follow a collision, and amidst the chaos of it all, you have to make significant decisions that can affect you for years to come.

What you do at the scene of the crash and the days after can dramatically affect your ability to recover compensation for your damages. Figuring out the right course of action can overwhelm a person on the best of days—never mind a person who suffers from the pain of their injuries and the anxiety of how they will pay for the expenses headed their way.

The good news is, if another party’s negligence caused your collision, you should not have to worry about bearing the burden of these costs. An experienced lawyer can explain your legal rights and options for how to recover your losses.

So, what should you do immediately following a car crash? Stay at the scene. Leaving the scene could qualify you as a hit-and-run driver. If someone suffered injuries or death from the collision, and you leave the scene, you risk facing criminal charges and serious penalties.

Instead, if your physical condition permits, check on the other people involved in the accident. If someone needs medical help, call 911. Do not move any individual who expresses they experience back or neck pain, unless a hazard exists that puts the person in imminent danger.

Call the police so they will send someone out to write and file a traffic collision report. You will need this report later when you file your insurance claim.

You should exchange basic information (your name, driver’s license number, insurance information, and license plate number) with other parties. Behave in a polite and civil manner, but do not say you are sorry or express any knowledge of wrongdoing on your behalf, as doing so will lay the groundwork for your legal liability.

If possible, talk to witnesses about what they saw and get their names and contact information so your lawyer can later talk to them about what happened and use their accounts to build your case for compensation. If you have your phone or a camera with you, take pictures of the scene and the damage to the vehicles.

Call your insurance company and give them the basic facts of the incident. Cooperate and be truthful; otherwise, they could later deny your claim.

You can also call a lawyer, especially if you suffered an injury in the collision. If we can be of service to you, your family, friends, neighbors, or co-workers, give us a call at 253.858.5434 to set up an appointment today.