Posted in Aggressive Driving,Car Accident,Distracted Driving,Drunk Driving,Negligence,Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law on November 20, 2014
Auto Accident Checklist
Whether you’ve just been involved in an auto accident or you want to protect yourself and your loved ones in the event of future car accidents, it’s important to be well-prepared and have a plan of action at the ready. After your accident, the sooner you get to a hospital and speak with an attorney, the better you will be able to protect your health and rights to compensation.
At Matt Hardin Law, our Murfreesboro auto accident lawyers know how vital the minutes, hours, and days after car accidents are, and that’s why it’s our goal to make sure that you get the treatment and legal representation you need to protect your health and your future.
To-Do List after an Accident
After an accident, there are a few important steps you should take right away to make sure you and your passengers are healthy and in the best position to get compensation for accident-related damages:
No matter who caused the accident, it’s important to call 911—even if you don’t think you’ve been seriously injured. Paramedics can treat you for any “hidden” injuries and police can file a report of the accident. Both your medical report and the police report can serve as valuable evidence for your Murfreesboro car accident attorneys while they build your claim.
Most insurance companies require that their policyholders contact them after accidents. That’s why it’s important to call your insurance provider and notify them that you were in an accident. However, you don’t have to give any further details. In fact, speaking with the insurance adjuster beyond notifying them of what happened can jeopardize your chances of getting full compensation.
Even if you have a great memory, the precise details of what happened in the moments leading up to your car accident may fade over time. Because auto accident claims depend on accurate information, it’s important that you immediately write down everything that happened in the moments before the accident. In addition, take pictures with a camera or phone if it is safe to do so, as the images can help our legal team analyze the accident scene.
If possible, speak with the other driver and get his or her name, telephone number, address, and insurance details. This information is important for your attorney while he or she is building your case. In addition, you should also get contact information from witnesses of the accident, as their statements may be help prove the other driver’s negligence in the event your case goes to trial.
After you’ve received medical attention and recorded all the pertinent details about the accident, your next step toward getting compensation is to contact an experienced law firm. A qualified Murfreesboro car accident lawyer can use all of the information you gathered and build a strong claim that’s designed to maximize your accident-related damages.
Time is of the essence after a car accident. Even if you can’t complete all of the above steps, don’t let that dissuade you from contacting the legal team at Matt Hardin Law. In most cases, we can recover the information necessary to build your claim through other means. The most important matter is to make sure you and your loved ones are okay and that you contact us right away.
To get in touch with our legal professionals, just dial (615) 200-1111 or complete a free online consultation form. We’re here to help.
