Car accidents are terrifying experiences, especially when they end with serious or catastrophic injuries. It can be difficult to keep a cool head and take purposeful action immediately after a traumatic experience like a car accident in Washington, but by using a cell phone—or asking an uninjured person to use one for you—it’s possible to take decisive action at the accident scene and in the weeks to follow. Knowing what to do after a car accident in Washington or elsewhere in Washington greatly benefits your physical and financial recovery later. A car accident lawyer in Lake Stevens is also here to help you if you were injured in an accident.
Take Action at the Scene of the Washington Car Accident
If the accident was deadly or catastrophic, you may be unable to take any action at the scene due to severe injury or incapacity. However, many accident victims can safely use a cell phone while waiting for help. A phone becomes a critical tool at the scene of a car accident to do the following:
- First, call 911 to report the accident and request emergency services
- Then, apply any necessary first aid within your capacity
- Use the phone’s camera to take photos of the damaged vehicles and the accident scene
- Photograph anything relevant to the accident such as skid marks, traffic signs, or the layout of an intersection
- Take photos of any visible injuries
- Add the contact number of the other driver or drivers
- Add the contact information of any eyewitnesses
Eyewitnesses can be crucial in car accident claims, especially when an accident occurs in places that lack traffic cameras or nearby security cameras to capture the crash.
It’s important to avoid saying anything at the scene that can be construed as admitting fault, even a simple “I’m sorry” can be later used against you, even if you only meant you were sorry the accident happened.
What to Do During the Days and Weeks After a Car Accident In Washington
It’s always best to go directly to a hospital after a car accident, either in an ambulance or by arranging transportation right from the scene. Waiting to seek medical attention can lead to a claim denial when an insurance company asserts that your injury could have occurred elsewhere.
At the hospital, ask the doctor to perform a full medical evaluation in addition to treating your emergency injuries. This helps to catch injuries that have delayed symptoms onset including whiplash and dangerous traumatic brain injuries or internal bleeding. Obtain a detailed medical report showing your injuries, your doctor’s treatment recommendations, and your recovery prognosis.
Then, report the accident to your insurance company and reach out to an experienced Washington car accident lawyer to represent your best interests throughout the process of recovering the compensation you deserve.
Follow Your Doctor’s Orders Carefully and Avoid Common Pitfalls After a Car Accident In Washington
During the car accident claim process, it’s important to avoid common mistakes such as failing to carefully follow your doctor’s treatment recommendations. Insurance companies commonly use this failure against injury victims to devalue claims. It’s also important to hire an attorney before accepting any early offers from insurance adjusters, who often reach out with low settlement offers before an injury victim knows the full scope of their damages. Accepting this settlement requires signing away your right to a lawsuit once your economic and non-economic damages become clear.
Knowing what steps to take after a serious car accident helps to relieve financial hardship so an injury victim can focus on their physical recovery with fewer concerns about the economic consequences of the accident. Contacting a personal injury lawyer in Lake Stevens is a good first step.