What To Do and What Not To Do After a Car Accident

It is important that you know what to do and what not to do following a car accident.  If you are not at fault for the accident, you want to do the things that will help your case. If you are the one who was responsible for the accident, it is of utmost importance that you know what not to do following a car accident. This will help minimize your liability and reduce possible damages against you.  Because of your shock and dismay immediately following a car crash, you may be tempted to overreact. It is best not to panic and to take a deep breath.

What to Do Immediately Following a Car Accident

1. Contact the police and obtain a police report.
2.  Obtain the other driver’s contact and insurance information.
3. Seek medical attention for your injuries as soon as possible. This entails visiting a hospital or a doctor on the day of the accident.
4. Take photographs of the motor vehicles involved in the accident as well as the accident scene as soon as possible after the accident occurs.  Photo evidence is very important in your personal injury case.
5. Contact your insurance company right away to notify them of the accident and file an insurance claim. (do not speak to the opposing insurance company. Speaking with them could be detrimental for your case)
6.  Inform the hospital or your doctor of all areas of your body that are bothering you following the accident.
7. If you need to miss work due to the accident’s injuries, ask the hospital or your doctor to write a letter recommending specific time off. Please send a copy of this letter to your insurance company.

What not to do after a car Accident

1. Never leave the scene of the accident – Not only is it a crime in Maryland to leave the scene of an accident without at least providing the other driver with your insurance information, but you will significantly harm your claim because it will appear that you were at fault for the accident and that you may not have suffered any injuries.
2. Never accept responsibility for the accident – Unless it is a rear-end collision, you have no idea whether the accident was your fault or not. Admitting fault for a car accident in Maryland will almost certainly hinder your chance of succeeding with your personal injury claim.
3. Never Speak with the other driver’s insurance company without the assistance of a lawyer – The other driver’s insurance company will almost always contact you and ask you to explain how the accident occurred. Insurance adjusters are trained to ask you questions and lock you into answers that are designed to destroy your personal injury claim.
4. Never settle your personal injury claim without a lawyer – You will not know whether the insurance company is providing you with a settlement offer that is fair and reasonable for your injuries unless you have knowledge of the law, formal legal training and experience as a lawyer, and daily experience handling and representing personal injury claimants. The insurance company will almost always undervalue your claim in order to settle it quickly rather than giving you a fair value.
5. Failure to summon the police to the scene of the accident – It is not a good idea for the drivers involved to exchange information, and proceed. Failure to call the police means two things: your accident was not serious enough to cause you injuries, and it is a he-said-she-said situation between the drivers regarding who was at fault for the accident.
6. Failure to obtain the other driver’s relevant information at the accident scene – It is critical that you obtain the other driver’s license information, insurance information, license plates, and registration paperwork while at the accident scene. Ideally, take photos of the damage to both cars involved in the accident.

Call a Baltimore Car Accident Lawyer Today

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in the Baltimore area, please contact the Law Office of John J. Leppler for a FREE consultation at (443) 955-1989.  John will advise you on your legal options, and assist you in determining the best course of action. If you choose to work with John, he will fight the insurance company hard and refuse to accept a low-ball settlement. Our commitment is to assist you in obtaining the compensation you deserve!