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6 Things to Remember At The Scene Of A Car Accident

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Metro Detroit Car Accident Attorney

 

Odds are that you have or will be involved in a car accident in your lifetime. Even a minor car accident is an unnerving experience. While you will likely be shaken up, remembering these steps will save you a lot of anxiety and hassle in the unfortunate event that you are involved in a car accident.  

  1. Medical Treatment – Call an ambulance for injured individuals who need it and do not move injured passengers unless necessary to avoid further injuries. While seeking medical attention may seem obvious, many people involved in an accident do not feel pain at the scene. The rush of adrenaline often masks pain symptoms that accident victims feel later on. If you are able to leave the scene on your own, but feel pain symptoms later on, contact your family physician, local urgent care facility or go to the emergency room. For more information, check out our post on common injuries in Michigan motor vehicle accidents. 
     
  2. Call the Police – The police should be contacted even if the accident is relatively minor. The police report will document the facts of the accident and, if subsequent litigation arises, will serve as a vital piece of evidence. The police report will contain information on: the time, date and place of the accident, the weather and road conditions at the time of the accident, insurance information for each driver, whether any driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, vehicle damage, reported injuries, and who was deemed at fault for the accident.
     
  3. Document Everything – If possible, write down as much information as you can at the scene of the accident including your injuries, symptoms, description of how the accident occurred, time, date and location of the accident, any statements by the other driver, contact information for the other driver and owner of the vehicle if they are not the same person, name and badge number of the responding police officer, and whether the police officer made any determinations as to fault. Sometimes there are errors on the police report, and it is always best to be able to correct these errors sooner rather than later. Additionally, while you think you will be able to remember these details, over time memories fade. This information is also helpful if the other driver attempts to change his story later on.
     
  4. Take Pictures – These days, almost everyone has a cell phone with a camera. Taking pictures of the vehicle damage, injuries, road conditions, weather conditions and scene of the accident, can help win your case.
     
  5. Statements – It is important to cooperate with the police, but avoid making any admissions of fault. Also avoid making statements to the other driver, other than requests for medical assistance.
     
  6. Remain at the Scene – Unless you are being transported to the hospital by an ambulance, remain at the scene until the other driver and police officer have left. You do not want the other driver making statements to the police that you do not have an opportunity to respond to.

Being involved in a car accident is a frightening experience for everyone, but by following these steps you can best ensure that your medical needs are met and your legal rights protected. For information on mistakes that can cost you your car accident case, click here. 

Contact the Metro Detroit Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation regarding your Michigan car accident case.