One minute you’re riding along in a car without a care in the world, the next you’re in a ditch or you’ve been rear-ended by a pickup truck. If you ever find yourself in an automobile accident as a passenger, you probably have a bunch of thoughts racing around your head. It’s important that you take a breath, assess the situation, and make some smart moves to help others and yourself in the event that you’ll be filing for compensation down the road. We explore those smart moves in today’s blog.
Steps To Take If You’re A Passenger In An Automobile Accident
First and foremost, your health and safety is paramount. If you are too injured to move or to safely help others, have someone call 911 and wait until medical help arrives. The following tips are only worth considering if they will not put you in any further danger. With that in mind, once you’ve assessed your health, here’s how you can assist others and make it easier on your future self in the event you want to file a personal injury claim:
1. Assist Others – Once you’ve assessed your situation, you’ll want to make sure everyone else in the vehicle is okay. Check on the driver and anyone else in the back seat. From there, move on to see if anyone else involved in the wreck in other vehicles needs immediate medical assistance.
2. Call The Police – Contacting the authorities will help get everyone professional assistance to sort out the accident, and it will ensure that an official police report is generated, which can help to back up your claim that the accident happened at a specific time and date.
3. Get Witness Information – Regardless of whether or not you’re going to file an injury claim, it’s helpful to get the contact information of the other driver and anyone who witnessed the accident. They’ll be able to confirm your version of events and give credibility to your claims. If you’re not filing, their testimony will surely prove helpful for your driver.
4. Take Pictures – Almost everyone has a smartphone on them at all times, so get it out and take plenty of photos of the accident. Take pictures of vehicle damage, the area of the accident, your injuries and anything else that could eventually prove helpful in your claim.
5. Head To The Doctor – If you are injured at all, it’s in your best interest to head to a doctor’s office for an evaluation. Many times the true extent of our injuries can be masked by adrenaline that is produced by our bodies in the wake of an accident. Head to a medical center and get an evaluation so that there is a medical record that verifies your injury claim.
6. Keep Records/Save Documents – Finally, it is very helpful to write down important information and to keep diligent records of everything that pertains to the accident. Get names of police officers and witnesses, write down your version of events because your memory can fade, and save all documentation you receive in the mail if it in any way involves your case. Thorough documentation and record keeping can make all the difference when it comes time to file an injury claim.
If you do all six of these things in the wake of an accident, and you make it a point to contact a personal injury law firm like Hey Workers to assist with your claim, we’re confident that you’ll have a strong likelihood of maximizing your award compensation. And if you have questions or concerns about any aspect of your injury case, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our firm at (844) 439-9675.
