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Accident Car Lawyer – What to Do After an Accident
The first thing is to keep calm. Do not leave your vehicle to confront the other person. If your vehicle can be driven, move it out or to the side of the road, which is out of danger. Find a safe place to share information with the other driver. Information to be collected includes insurance information, the name of the other driver, address, and phone number. Ask to see an insurance card and driver’s license. Copy the full name, address and registration number of the driver. Make sure the card is not expired. Also, confirm that the insurance indicates the name of the person and the vehicle he was driving and that the policy is valid. More about our Car Accident Attorneys in San Antonio here
DO NOT DISCUSS ANY DETAILS OF THE ACCIDENT WITH ANYONE AT THE SCENE OTHER THAN A POLICE OFFICER. DO NOT ANSWER ANY QUESTION ABOUT PAIN. EVEN IF YOU DO NOT FEEL PAIN AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, YOU MAY FEEL PAIN DAYS LATER. SIT IN YOUR VEHICLE AND WAIT THE ARRIVAL OF A POLICE OFFICER IN A SAFE PLACE AND AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE TRAFFIC.
If there is visible damage to your vehicle or any bodily injury, tell the police. Under no circumstances accept any offer to pay for the damage without contacting the police and insurance company. If there is damage, you should take pictures of both vehicles. A good practice is to keep a camera available in the glove compartment of your car. You can also use your cell phone to take pictures of cars, the other driver, and any documents (driver’s license and insurance card).
Once the police arrive at the crash site, you must inform them of what happened. If you were hit from behind, just say this: I was stopped and was hit from behind. Let the officer ask you the questions, and you answer them in the best way possible. Be careful when answering about distance and speed. Use words for this estimate; try not to use numbers. If you’re wrong about the numbers, this can hurt you in the future if you want to make a claim. Before the police leave, be sure to receive a small card with the name of the police officer, your case number and phone number for direct dialing to receive the police report when ready. If you forget to get this card, try to remember that the police department the officer works, such as Highway Patrol, Police Department, etc.
Car Accident Lawyer
The police will also ask you if you are injured and need medical attention. If you feel any pain, let the police call paramedics to tend to you and transfer you to the hospital. Do not refuse treatment if you are hurt. When you talk to the paramedics or the police, tell them where and how you are injured. If you do not tell them about their symptoms, they will not know how to treat it and can not help you. Also, if you hit any part of your body inside the vehicle, TELL paramedics.
Follow all instructions from doctors at the hospital. After returning to your home, you have many decisions to make. Will you need a lawyer? What kind of doctor should I see? Contacting my insurer? How to receive a copy of the police report? Who will pay for the damage to my car? How to get a rental car? Call our office to schedule an appointment