The immediate moments following your car collision with another driver may feel like an out-of-body experience. That is, you may be beside yourself, overwhelmed, and unable to think clearly about how to proceed. While this is an understandable reaction, you must understand that the actions you take next are pivotal if you wish for the option to even consider taking legal action later on. Continue reading to learn what you should do immediately after and in the days following your accident and how an experienced St. Mary’s County car accident lawyer at The Dorsey Law Firm can advise you every step of the way.
What should I do immediately after experiencing a car accident?
As the plaintiff of a future car accident claim, you will carry a burden of proof. Meaning, you must provide the Maryland civil court with sufficient proof of the other driver’s fault in your car accident event for a chance at being awarded fair financial compensation. With that being said, a majority of your proof will derive from the scene of your car accident. So, while you are still at the scene, you must immediately take the following course of action:
- You must dial 911 so that a law enforcement officer and a medical response team can be dispatched to the scene.
- You must take photos and videos of your bodily injuries, your car damages, and the overall scene.
- You must exchange contact information and car insurance information with the other driver.
- You must record oral or written statements from witnesses who saw your accident event go down.
- You must allow a medical response team to transport you to the emergency room via ambulance.
- You must contact and retain the legal services of a seasoned personal injury lawyer during your hospital stay.
What should I do in the days following my car accident?
Unfortunately, your hard work is not over when you leave the scene of your car accident. That is, you must continue collecting evidence and overall building up your case. So, in the days following your accident, you must proceed with the following course of action:
- You must continue to attend medical appointments and treatments as prescribed by your treating physician.
- You must create a physical file of all the tangible evidence you have collected for your claim thus far (i.e., police report, medical bills, car repair quote, etc).
- You must avoid posting on social media about your accident event, to not absent-mindedly admit fault in the matter.
- You must avoid speaking with others or your car insurance provider about your accident event, to not absent-mindedly admit fault in the matter.
Keep in mind the statute of limitations for your legal claim (i.e., three years from the date your car accident event took place). This is to say that you must immediately drop everything and call a skilled St. Mary’s County auto accident lawyer from The Dorsey Law Firm.
