Being in a car crash is an incredibly scary experience, even if you only come out with a few bumps and bruises. However, if you come off a little worse – a broken leg, whiplash, or have another serious injury, it can be an even worse experience.
It can be hard knowing what to do in the aftermath of a car accident. Obviously, if you have been injured, you will be taken to hospital. In normal circumstances, you should take photos of the crash scene and swap details with the other driver. However, if you’ve been hurt, you won’t be able to do this.
To help make dealing with a car crash where you have been badly injured a little easier, we have put together some tips that you might find useful:
Get medical attention and give yourself time to heal
The most important thing you should do after a serious car accident is get medical attention. You may spend a few days in hospital or a few weeks – this will depend on how bad your injury is.
During this time, don’t focus on the accident or what you should be doing, spend your time concentrating on getting better. You can worry about getting compensation once you have started to heal.
Ask the police for evidence
Get in touch with your local police department and ask them to give you the evidence from your accident. This should include the photos that were taken, the interviews with witnesses and the other driver, and the police report.
Getting your hands on these documents is important as if you choose to try and get compensation they will be needed. For compensation to be awarded, you need to be able to prove that the accident wasn’t your fault.
Get access to your medical records
If you want to get compensation for your injury, you will also need to prove that your injury was caused by the accident. To do this, you will need a copy of your medical records, and a note from your doctor.
Contact a lawyer
A couple of weeks after the accident, contact a personal injury lawyer. The Zaner Harden lawyers are specialists in the field of personal injury, so it might be worth contacting them.
Explain what has happened, how bad your injury is and what you are hoping to get compensation for. The lawyer you are speaking to should then be able to tell you what they think you could get, and the best way to go about it.
If you are in hospital, you may be able to get a lawyer to come and speak to you while you are there. If not, your lawyer will probably arrange regular phone calls with you to keep you up to date with their progress.
Being in a car crash can be extremely traumatic, especially if you have been badly hurt. It can be hard knowing what steps to take in the aftermath of the accident, but by following the tips above, you can make dealing with it a little easier.
