First of all, get any medical treatment you might need, keeping in mind that the shock from a crash can sometimes make it difficult to know if you’re injured, or how bad your injuries are. When in doubt, seek medical treatment. Second, make sure to tell your side of the story to the police. If no one else has called the police, and the crash involved any injuries or property damage, you should call the police. Do not, however, speak to the other party involved in the collision, except to share your ID, insurance, and contact information (which you are required to do). It may feel natural to apologize – or you may be angry and want to yell at the driver– but both of these actions could harm your case. Make sure you get the other party’s contact information, including any insurance information you can get and their license plate number. If there were any witnesses to the collision, get their contact information as well. Take notes and photos of any evidence that might be helpful including road conditions, property damage, and injuries. Finally, and very importantly, do not speak to any insurance company representative until after speaking to an attorney. Remember, an insurance adjuster’s job is to save their company money by paying out as little on your claim as possible – not to help you out, or even to treat you fairly. Speaking to an attorney, even if you don’t end up hiring one, can help you to avoid pitfalls.
