Ready Lawyers Lawyers and attorneys ready to serve your legal needs!

You’ve Just Been Injured in a Car Accident: What Should You Do?

You've just been in a car accident. You are in shock and confused as to what you should do. As soon as you calm down and regain full cognition, assess the situation in and outside of your vehicle. Are there any injuries? If so, immediately call 911 and inform the operator of the accident and identify whom and to what extent an individual is injured, whether it be you, a passenger, pedestrians, or the driver of the other vehicle(s) involved in the accident. If the injuries reported are severe, an ambulance will immediately be dispatched to the scene of the accident. If you or anyone else require immediate medical attention, please allow the EMTs to perform their job and assist those in need to the hospital. If, however, no one is significantly injured the first and most important thing you should do is to get the name, address, phone number, driver’s license number, license plate and insurance information from the other driver or drivers involved in the accident. While doing so, make sure to get the names of all the passengers who were present in the vehicle(s) during the accident. Second, try to identify all persons who may have witnessed the accident and obtain their contact information as well. Third, call the local police department and notify them that an accident has occurred and give them precise information as to where the accident happened. A police officer should be dispatched to the scene and will make a police report documenting what happened (make sure to get a copy of this police report before the officer leaves). Fourth, if the vehicles are not too damaged, move the cars away from oncoming traffic.