Car accidents are very traumatic, especially when you or a loved one is severely injured or if a loved one is killed. Car accidents are one of the leading causes of death in the United States and with thousands of accidents occurring on Louisiana roads every year, car crashes are a reality of life for many families and individuals.

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Car accidents don’t just wreck cars; they also destroy lives, sometimes forever. Even if injuries are slight and recovery is likely, it is stressful to deal with physical ailments that could last a lifetime if proper treatment isn’t provided because insurance companies won’t fully cover medical expenses.

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If you are in a car accident, you may initially feel flustered or scared, but it is important to try to remain calm and remember that this is the best time to capture information about the motor vehicle accident. Here is a checklist that you can place in your glove compartment for easy reference if an accident occurs:

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• Stop and Remain Calm. While in this heightened situation you will
  likely be feeling many emotions, it’s important to remain calm and stay at the scene. Do not ever drive away from an accident scene, no matter how minor. Fleeing a scene could make the accident a hit-and-run.

 

• Assess Yourself for Injuries. Check yourself for injuries. If it’s not safe to move, you should stay still and wait for help to arrive. If you’re able to move, you can assist others who were in the accident. Then you can get to the side of the road and move on to the next step.

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• Protect Other Drivers. If your accident occurred at night, other unsuspecting drivers could end up in an accident if they are unaware of what has occurred. If you have flares, it’s a good idea to set them up.

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• Always put your blinkers on. 

 

• Call Emergency Services. Alerting emergency services will send
  professionals who can assess your injuries and the police. Allow
  medical professionals to look at your injuries and treat what they can.

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• Move Your Car Out of Traffic. Your car may be blocking traffic lanes. There’s a chance you could be able to move the vehicle to the side of the road, so you don’t congest traffic. However, proceed with caution. If a part of your car is leaking or smoking, do not attempt to move the car and give it a wide berth. Leaking fluids and smoke are signs of a potential fire hazard and you could be at risk of burn injuries if you’re near the car.

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• Speak to Police. When you give your statement to the police, you’re documenting your side of the story. This evidence, along with their unbiased assessment of the scene, can provide a lot of help for your claim. There are a few things to remember when speaking to police. Only tell them what you can remember. It’s okay if you don’t have all the details. Never speculate what may have happened because it may not have happened.

 

• Don’t Assign Blame or Apologize. While you may think the other
  driver was at fault, this may not always be the case. The investigation will show the identity of the negligent party. Incorrectly assigning blame could affect your credibility. You also shouldn’t apologize, even if you want to convey you’re sorry the situation happened at all. Apologizing could be seen as admitting fault, which could affect your claim later.
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• Exchange Information. If you and the other person involved in the
  accident are able, you should exchange information so you can give your insurance company the necessary information about the crash. This includes name, contact information, make, model and VIN of your car, and insurance policies.
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• Talk to Potential Witnesses. If there are any witnesses to the accident, try and talk to them to hear what they have seen. Also, try and get their contact information while they are there in case their testimony is needed down the line as the case progresses.
   

• Record What You Remember. If you can, record what happened as quickly as possible so you don’t forget anything. You’ll want to make sure you’re able to determine when the accident happened, where it happened, and what the consequences were. While you’ve given statements to police, it’s still important to preserve evidence. Photographs allow you to capture the damages, injuries, condition of the road, and weather when the accident occurred and can help your personal injury claim.

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At Borojevic Law Firm, LLC, we focus on providing our clients with the legal representation they need to pursue the best outcomes for their unique personal injury claims that resulted from negligent drivers recklessly operating their vehicles throughout our state. Contact us to schedule a no-charge, no-obligation case evaluation.