Protect Yourself After A Car Accident

They say every 30 minutes, someone in America is getting into a car accident.  These accidents can be traumatic and can change a person's whole life in the course of minutes, if not seconds.  If you've been in a car accident, it can be difficult to know what to do.  If you've been in a car accident, the odds are pretty high that at the moment of impact, you may be disoriented and not thinking clearly.  Before you get in a fender bender, we've compiled a comprehensive list of things you should do to ensure your rights are protected. 

What To Do After A Car Accident

After a car accident, you've got moments to ensure that you protect yourself in a potential lawsuit.  If you are out cold, hopefully a witness has called 911 to obtain emergency help for you.  But if you are not disoriented, and have your wits about you, the decisions you make after an accident can be critical in establishing fault.  Memorize the following list so the next time you're in an accident, you'll know instinctively what to do.


  • Call the police to obtain a record of the accident. 
  • Trade insurance information with the other driver. Do not let them try to just bribe you with a check for a few hundred dollars. 
  • Obtain witness information so your attorney can contact these witnesses later for a statement.
  • Take out your smartphone and take pictures on the scene of the crash and the surrounding road conditions.  Make note of any physical obstacles or any points where your vision could be obstructed.
  • Take pictures of any injuries you have so you have a visual record of the accident.
  • Take pictures of the vehicle itself and the other person's vehicle so they can't later claim that you crashed into their side, causing it to dent, when you have a visual record that it was a minor fender bender. 
  • Get checked out on scene by paramedics and make note of any pains, even if they are dull aches or pains.  Accept any additional care they recommend. 
  • Collect the police officers' cards to obtain a police report from them later.
  • Call a skilled personal injury attorney to protect your rights.
What you do in the moments after a car crash can sometimes make or break your case.  Don't laugh and joke with the other driver that you were drinking at a party previously, that you were speeding, or anything.  The other driver may try to use these statements against you in a lawsuit.  Instead, wait for the police to arrive and calmly explain your side of the story. 

Protect Yourself

Protect yourself and obtain the necessary information on scene. And then later, call a skilled personal injury attorney to obtain the help you need.  Your personal injury attorney will contact their best investigator to obtain the details and can use the information you've collected to strengthen your case.  Don't delay and suffer in pain; call a skilled personal injury attorney today.