There are over six million car accidents that happen in the United States every year. The good news is that the majority of these accidents don’t always lead to serious injuries. Sometimes the accident can happen because of negligence by road users. What do you do when you get involved in an accident that results in physical injuries? The best thing to do would be to call a personal injury lawyer to make sure you’re getting the justice that you deserve.
Shaffer law would be the best place to go if you’re looking for a car accident lawyer Charleston WV.
Contact our Charleston West Virginia law firm at 304-400-4044 to schedule a free consultation to schedule a free consultation.
In case you ever find yourself in a car accident, below are some things that you should do:
Stop
It doesn’t matter if it is your fault or that of another person. Common sense dictates that you need to stop and assess the situation. There could be other causalities involved. Driving away from an accident scene is a criminal offense that is punishable by law. You need to stop your car no matter what.
Protect The Scene
This is done in order to prevent more accidents from happening. You can set up flares or keep the indicators on especially at night. It is always a good idea to keep a flashlight in the trunk as you never know when you could need it.
Call the Police
This should apply even when there are no serious injuries. You can’t file an insurance claim if there is no police report involved.
Filing a police report after a car accident is an important step in making sure all the details of the accident are documented and all parties involved are protected.
Usually, after an accident, you may only remember additional details later after you’ve relaxed and when you’re able to think straight, and these details can be very helpful, especially if the car accident claim snowballs into a lawsuit.
If you find you have remembered some key details after the accident report is filed, contact the police officer and see if you can add these details to the accident report.
Talk to Witnesses
Ask the help of witnesses is very important. Ask what he or she saw. Get as many details as possible such as their names, numbers, or addresses. Ask locals if they’ve ever witnessed other accidents in the same place.
Take Pictures
You should take pictures of the accident scene and also of the injuries just in case. These pictures can act as evidence when filing for a personal injury lawsuit. You should also make sure you go to the hospital.
Inform Your Insurance Company
Quickly tell your insurance company you’ve been in an accident. Make sure to cooperate with them and give out clear and honest information about the incident and the extent of your injuries. Explain the facts as clearly as possible. Lying to the insurance company about anything will get you in serious trouble, including possible denial of coverage for the accident. Obtain and review any police report filed, so you can point out who broke what traffic laws or who was at fault.
If you’ve been in an accident in West Virginia, Contact Shaffer Law today.