What To Do Immediately After a Car Accident? 

Car accidents are traumatizing and may seem chaotic immediately after.

Dealing with the aftermath can be hard especially if you have painful injuries.

Dealing with insurance companies, doctors, medical expenses and lost wages can take its toll on a car accident victim.

What you do immediately after an accident is very important.

If you were not at fault or only had a small part in the accident you may be able to file a claim for damages.

The Richard Harris Law Firm has been handling car accident cases for over 40 years here in Nevada.

If you need to hire a top personal injury lawyer than call us today.

Six Things You Should do

Knowing what to do at the accident scene can help you in the future with insurance claims and help protect you going forward.

There are some things that you should do at any accident scene that can help:

1. Stay at the scene- never leave the scene of an accident no matter how minor the accident might be

• Move the car if possible to the shoulder of the road

• Put your hazard light on

• Use a flashlight or the light on your phone when exiting your vehicle in the dark

• If the car is not movable leave the car and get to the side of the road and call for help

2. Exchange information- always exchange information with the other drivers and passengers involved in the crash if possible. You’ll need the following information:

• Names

• Phone numbers

• Driver license information

• Make, model and color of vehicle

• License plate number

• Insurance information

Police will also gather this information when they arrive but a police report may take several days to get and you need this information as soon as possible.

Take photos of this information if you can.

Always get help if anyone seems to be hurt.

3. Report the accident- you always need to contact the police as soon as an accident happens. Call 911 immediately to report the accident. Police will come to the ascent and file a report that will be used to file any and all insurance claims. Always give the police as much information as possible but never guess. If you are unsure , answer that way.

4. Take pictures- with everyone having a smartphone it is easy to take photos of any and all things that are related to the accident. This includes the other vehicles, the surrounding area and even the weather at the time. Pictures and video or powerful evidence in your claim.

5. Talk to any witnesses- if anyone stops and says they saw the accident and get their contact information. Witnesses can go a long way in helping your case.

6. Limit your conversation with the other driver- there is nothing wrong with being concerned about the other driver or checking on the other victims. Emotions can be high after an accident and remaining claim is key. But be careful of what you say to the other parties involved in the accident. Never admit fault or apologize. Anything you say can be used against you later on with the insurance company.

If the accident is serious and you are seriously injured these steps might not be possible and seeking medical attention and police help is the first concern.

The Accident Happened Now What?

Now that the accident is over what you do after can be just as important as what you do the day of.

You will need to be diligent about keeping up on what’s happening, many things after an accident have a very specific timeline.

Seek medical attention– this should happen the day of no matter how minor you may think your injuries are. Some injuries don’t present themselves right away. Even if you see a doctor the day of the crash you should always do a follow up visit especially if you notice more pain or other injuries. A doctor will examine your diagnosis and treat any injuries. Seeing a doctor immediately can confirm your injuries and generate a report that the injuries you sustained were in fact from the accident that just happened.

Keep detailed records– start a folder that you keep all your accident related correspondence in, such as doctors notes and medical bills. Police reports, photos and all other information related to the incident should also be in this folder.

Get legal advice– other than seeking medical attention this is possibly the most important thing you can do. Dealing with your insurance company and the other driver’s insurance company can be stressful. They will most likely contact you for a statement. Never speak with them without speaking to a legal expert first. Hiring a lawyer can make the days after an accident less stressful and make sure that everything that is done after the accident is in your best interest. Most lawyers like Richard Harris offer free consultations to discuss the possibilities of your claim

Notify insurance company– you will need to contact your own insurance company to report the accident. You don’t have to give a detailed statement , just the facts as you know them. This may also help if the other driver was uninsured, under insured or left the scene of the accident.

Prepare to file an injury claim– you need to file your claim with the insurance company for compensation. You have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim in Nevada.

It is best to start these steps now and reach out to a car accident lawyer who can help.

Speak with a Nevada Car Accident Lawyer

The Richard Harris Law Firm can help you file your car injury claim.

Starting the day you contact our offices and we take your case.

We take on the burden for you.

Our team has been representing clients of car accidents for over 40 years in Nevada.

Once you contact our office we will set up a free consultation appointment where you will speak with one of our attorneys that specialize in car accident claims.

During that consultation our team will provide you with what to expect from your case going forward and what compensation you will be entitled to.

Once we take your case everything will be in our hands, you will no longer have to deal with insurance adjusters, doctors, or medical billing representatives.

Our team will negotiate a settlement with the other parties involved that are responsible for your injuries.

If a settlement is not an option our team will be prepared for trial.

We offer our services on a contingency basis so you do not pay money up front.

We only accept a fee when we win your case.

With offices in Las Vegas and Reno we can represent clients all over Nevada, call today for a free consultation.