A car accident can throw your whole life into upheaval. Whether it’s a fender bender or a full-blown crash, it’s often hard to collect your thoughts and concentrate enough to make wise decisions after an accident. You may be somewhat dazed and find it difficult to begin putting the pieces together.
Let Recovery Law Center help. Here, Honolulu car accident attorney Glenn Honda lists the Top 5 steps you should take after a car accident.
- Call 911 if you or anyone else is hurt. This will summon paramedics and law enforcement to the crash scene. Make sure to get the accident report, which will be important if you need to file an injury claim later.
- Seek medical attention. When the ambulance arrives, ask to be examined even if you don’t notice any injuries. It’s important to get a medical evaluation to create a link between your injuries and the accident. Follow the doctor’s orders and be sure to go to any follow-up appointments. If you don’t feel injured at the scene but develop symptoms later, make sure to see a doctor right away.
- Collect evidence. In addition to getting insurance and contact information from anyone involved in the accident, including witnesses, also try to capture the following:
- Photos of the accident scene, vehicle damage, and any injuries
- The specific time and location of the wreck
- Your own recollections of the car accident
- Be guarded in what you say. The less you say to people in the other vehicle and their insurance adjuster, the better.
- Contact an experienced Honolulu car accident lawyer. Always seek legal advice before you begin negotiating with the insurance company.
What Not to Do After an Accident
While your actions after a crash are important, be aware that there are some things you should avoid doing as well:
- Don’t leave the scene. This could be problematic on several levels. If someone was seriously hurt or killed, leaving the scene could result in being charged for a hit and run or other criminal violation. In addition, it may prevent you from filing an insurance claim.
- Don’t accept blame. If you believe the accident was your fault, you may feel tempted to approach the other driver and accept the blame. Don’t. There may be unforeseen circumstances that contributed to the accident. Resist the urge to say you’re sorry.
- Don’t agree to a settlement until you’ve spoken with a lawyer. Although you will first seek compensation for the car accident through your Hawaii no-fault insurance, you could be able to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party if your injuries meet certain legal thresholds. A skilled car accident lawyer can help ensure that you seek maximum compensation from all possible sources.
Contact Recovery Law Center If You Have Been Injured
A car accident that leads to serious injuries can have lifelong physical, financial, and emotional impacts. Know that when you’re the victim of a negligent driver, you don’t have to go through the claims process alone.
Get the upper hand by choosing Recovery Law Center. Attorney Glenn Honda has been guiding Hawaii accident victims through complex personal injury claims for more than 25 years, serving more than 5,000 clients throughout Oahu. He can help you, too.
There’s nothing to lose and everything to gain by scheduling a free consultation. Contact us now to get started.
