You are on your way to work in morning rush hour traffic. As you travel through an intersection on a solid green light, a truck approaching from the opposite direction suddenly and unexpectedly attempts a left turn in front of you and blocks your path of travel. You attempt to brake and swerve, but you still end up hitting the front passenger side corner of the truck. The air bag explodes in your face and your vehicle suddenly fills with smoke. You’re not sure whether your vehicle is on fire. You quickly exit your car and are dazed. You’re not thinking clearly and your heart is pounding. What should you do now?
- Immediately call 911 to report the accident. If you are experiencing any injuries, you should mention that as well. If it is safe to do so, engage your emergency flashers and leave your car where it came to rest after the collision.This will enable the investigating police officer to take any necessary measurements, view the positioning of the vehicles and locate and examine debris fields which will assist him/her in understanding how the accident occurred. Once the vehicles are moved, you are giving the negligent driver an opportunity to change the facts of how the accident happened. You may find out that the other driver now tells the officer that you drifted left into his lane and struck his vehicle.
- Exchange information with the other driver. It is not only important to obtain his insurance information (insurance company name, address and policy number) but also obtaining his identity from his driver’s license (name, address and license number). Remember that the name on the insurance card may not be his name and if the officer does not take a report, you may never learn the true identity of the other driver.
- If you happen to have a camera or a camera phone, it is important to photograph the damage to both vehicles as well as the roadway.
- Obtain the names, telephone numbers and addresses of all witnesses. You may find that even witnesses who initially stop at the scene of an accident oftentimes leave the scene before officers arrive to take their names and statements.
- Do not give any statements to the other driver’s insurance carrier, either in written or recorded form. Stick to this rule even if the insurance representative tells you that he cannot process your claim without your statement.
- Do not give any form of a statement to your own insurance company without first consulting with an attorney. While you do have a duty to cooperate with your carrier, obtaining legal representation is important as you might be in an adversarial position with your carrier as a result of the other driver not having any or enough insurance to cover your damages.
- If you are injured in an accident, seek medical attention immediately. It becomes harder to prove that your injuries were caused by the accident when you create a gap between the accident date and the date of your first treatment.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident, motorcycle accident or pedestrian accident, reach out to the experienced lawyers at Select Law. With our extensive experience in the legal field, we know what it takes to win your case. Call us at (425) 891-6691 to arrange your FREE CONSULTATION with an experienced attorney (in person, phone, zoom or your residence/hospital)
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