7 Steps Every Car Wreck Victim Should Follow After A Wreck

Clients call us daily and ask “I was just in a car wreck—what do I do now?” A car wreck can happen in a blink of an eye but can have a lasting effect on your life. Insurance companies typically reach out to car wreck victims immediately after a collision to serve their own interests. Car wreck victims should not navigate the insurance claims process alone. The action you take following a car wreck is critical to your health and to your personal injury claim when it’s being evaluated by the insurance company. If you or a loved one are ever involved in a car wreck, here a few steps you should follow:

1. Call 911.  Make sure you report the collision to law enforcement and they respond to the scene.  Getting the other driver’s insurance information is not enough.  The insurance company will take advantage of you and deny your claim if you do not report the wreck to the police. You need documentation from the police about the wreck, about the other driver, and, most importantly, about how you are feeling at the scene.

2. Speak up. Report your injuries, if any, to the responding police officer and get checked out by the paramedics if they are on the collision scene.  Often, folks are in shock or their bodies produce adrenaline in response to the car wreck.  Symptoms such as pain, soreness and stiffness may not set in immediately.  If you have symptoms on the scene of the collision, report them to the police officer and any paramedics that come to the scene.

3. Photographs. Take photos of your car and the other car.  Documenting the damage to both vehicles is critical.  Snap a few photos of the cars, if you feel well enough to do so, before you leave the scene.

4. Contact Information. Make sure you get contact information from anyone who may have witnessed the wreck happen. It can be critical to have a third party to speak to what occurred.

5. Treatment. Get checked out by a medical professional.  Seek immediate medical treatment from a hospital, physician or medical provider of your choice.

6. Documentation. Get a copy of the police report and review it. Make sure everything is noted correctly based on your recollection of what happened, what you said to the officer, and what the other driver said to the officer.

7. Call Bobby Johnson and John Alday.  We are here to help you fight the insurance companies and obtain justice.

Insurance companies are not here to help you.  Their adjusters and attorneys will look at every action you take following a car wreck and turn it against you.  Don’t let them take advantage of you.  Call Marietta Personal Injury Attorneys John Alday and Bobby Johnson and let us help you fight the insurance company and maximize your personal injury recovery.