What to Do After a Car Accident

Serving West Virginia and Ohio, including Parkersburg, Charleston, Morgantown, Huntington, Wheeling, Belpre, and Athens

Being in a car accident can be highly traumatic, often leaving you confused, disoriented, and in utter disbelief. If you are in pain from sustaining serious injuries, it may affect your ability to think clearly. However, it is important to stay calm and take the appropriate actions immediately following your auto accident so that you do not jeopardize your ability to receive the compensation you deserve.

Take a Moment and Assess the Car Accident and Call the Authorities

The first thing to do following your car accident is to assess any injuries sustained by you or your passengers. If necessary, seek medical assistance immediately. Call the police. Let them know what has happened and if you need emergency response personnel. If you are uninjured, make sure you and your vehicle are out of the way of oncoming traffic and are not in danger of being hit by another vehicle.

It is important to remember not to move anyone who is injured. Moving an injured person may result in further injury.

Cooperate with the Authorities and Help Emergency Response Personnel

When the police and emergency response personnel arrive, inform them of any serious injuries that need attention. The police will ask all parties involved to explain what happened. Please be sure to answer all of their questions and cooperate fully. They are there to objectively document and assess the car accident. If the other driver is at fault, their objective assessment of the accident will be important in proving negligence once you file your claim.

Gather Information about the Car Accident

Make sure to gather information about the car accident and the other drivers:

• Names of the drivers
• Names of witnesses
• Insurance information
• Driver's license numbers
• Phone numbers
• Addresses
• The VIN of the cars involved
• License plate numbers
• The car's make and model

Do Not Claim any Fault for the Car Accident

Be sure to only give the insurance companies and the police factual information. Do not make any claim of fault or take any responsibility for the car accident. Even if you believe you are at fault, it is best to consult with an experienced auto accident attorney before declaring your negligence to the police, the other driver, or the insurance company.

Seek Medical Attention Right Away

Emergency response personnel will ask you if you have been injured. Please tell them if you have hit your head or any other part of your body during the accident. They will transport you to the nearest hospital if you are in need of medical attention.

Sometimes, auto accident injuries take awhile to manifest symptoms. Therefore, even if you do not feel hurt, it is still possible that you may have suffered a personal injury. Just to be safe, you should follow up with your primary care physician the following day. Your physician will be able to find any injuries you may have suffered and help you get the treatment you need. Having medical documentation of your injuries immediately following the accident will help you in your car accident claim.

Contact a Car Accident Lawyer

You will want to contact an Ohio or West Virginia car accident lawyer to aid you in filing your claim. It is important to choose the right car accident lawyer to help you deal with the insurance companies and get the compensation you deserve.

Please contact the Ohio and West Virginia car accident lawyers at Jan Dils and Jim Leach Attorneys at Law, PLLC to schedule a car accident consultation.