What should I do immediately after a car accident?
If you’re wondering what to do immediately after a car accident, your first step should be to remain calm. From here, you can do what’s necessary to protect yourself and ensure anyone involved in your crash is OK. In the days after your accident, you may also want to contact a car accident lawyer who can help you decide whether to file a claim against an at-fault party.
Lafayette Car Accident Lawyer is available to help auto crash victims. If you were hurt in a car accident caused by someone else, contact us for a free consultation about your accident. In the meantime, review our answers to some of the most common questions about what you should do immediately after a car accident.
What is the first thing I should do after a car accident?
Stopping your vehicle immediately after your accident may be the best option. Next, you should call 911 to see if the other driver and anyone involved in your crash need help.
Should I call the police after an auto accident?
When you dial 911, police and medical personnel will come to the accident scene. These officers will collect information from you and others involved in your collision. They should then prepare a crash report that explains what happened during the accident.
A crash report can serve as an important piece of evidence if you decide to move forward with a claim against an at-fault party. However, you won’t be able to get this report unless you tell the police about your collision.
Meanwhile, an at-fault party’s insurance company could use the fact that you didn’t call the police against you. This business is likely more focused on its client’s best interests than yours. As part of its efforts to avoid paying out your claim, it may argue you chose not to report your crash to the police. If the insurer succeeds, you may be solely responsible for some or all of your accident-related losses.
Should I leave the accident scene to get help?
Regarding what to do after a minor car accident or major collision, staying at the scene is wise. By calling 911, emergency responders will come to assist you and anyone else who’s there. If you leave the scene, an at-fault motorist may depart without you realizing it. In addition, this motorist may claim you are responsible for a hit-and-run accident and try to hold you accountable for the crash.
Should I interact with the other driver?
In Louisiana, drivers are required by law to share their contact, insurance, and driver’s license information with the other drivers in an accident. Remember, you and the other motorists are dealing with the accident and its ramifications.
Although you may hope that communicating and collaborating with the other motorist may help you resolve the problem more quickly, this is only sometimes possible. Your car accident lawyer would generally advise you to say only what is necessary to avoid jeopardizing your claim by accidentally admitting fault.
How long do I have to file an auto accident claim?
You may decide to submit a claim in the days after your crash. According to Louisiana Revised Statutes (RS) 23:1209, you have up to one year from the date a personal injury occurs to pursue compensation from any at-fault parties.
Hire a Lafayette car accident lawyer for help
Hiring an auto crash attorney may help you get damages from anyone responsible for your collision. Lafayette Car Accident Lawyer may be able to look at your accident and determine if you have a valid compensation claim. To learn more or request a free consultation, call us at (337) 541-0769.
