Call for help

The first thing you should do is call 911 so that the police and medical help are summoned to the scene. Making sure that everyone's injuries are looked after is critical. 

Assess for injuries

First, determine the extent of injuries in your car and offer assistance, if possible. After you have assessed the occupants in your vehicle, assist others involved in the car accident, if you can.

Exchange information

The following information should be gathered for every driver and car involved in the crash: 

• Name
• Address
• Phone numbers
• Driver’s License Numbers
• The vehicle makes, models and years
• License plate numbers
• Insurance carriers and policy numbers

 Use your cell phone to take photos of this information to preserve it.

Identify witnesses

Obtain the name, address, phone numbers, and email addresses of all witnesses to the car accident.

Take photographs of the scene

Take photographs of your car and any other car involved in the crash. If possible, take photographs of the vehicles in their resting positions after the car accident and before they are moved. You should also include skid marks, debris on the road, and damage done to the utility poles, fences, etc., from different directions and angles.

Report the accident to your insurance

You need to contact your insurance company and report the car accident. When doing so, explain exactly how the crash occurred, the damage to your car and the other cars, and the extent of your injuries. 

Take photographs of your injuries

 As time passes, bruises will fade, cuts will heal, and other injuries will resolve. One of the best ways to document your injuries and healing time is by taking photos. A picture can be worth a thousand words.

Seek medical treatment

If you sustained car accident injuries, you should immediately seek medical treatment. Tell your medical providers how the crash happened and tell them where you are experiencing pain. Some common issues include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, whiplash, broken bones, and many others. It is also important that you follow through with your doctor’s medical recommendations.

Contact the Pennsylvania Car Accident Attorneys at Frischman & Rizza

Handling a car accident can be confusing. Consult an experienced Pittsburgh car accident lawyer to handle the legal aspects of your claim while you focus on recovering from your injuries. 

Do Not Give a Recorded Statement to the Other Driver’s Insurance Company

While you must cooperate fully with your insurance agent, you have no obligation to provide a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance. No matter how nice the adjuster might be, it is important to remember that they cannot help you. Instead, their goal is to obtain information to help other car drivers involved. Statements you make during a recorded conversation, no matter how innocent or unintended, can result in issues trying to recover financial compensation. 

Do Not Sign a Release

No matter how tempting, you should not sign a release with another driver’s insurance company until you have spoken to experienced car accident lawyers. It is very likely that a settlement offer shortly after the crash occurred will be for much less than the actual value of your car accident case. The initial call to most law firms, like Frischman & Rizza, is free. As a result, make sure you consult an experienced car crash lawyer before signing away your rights.

Waiting to Seek Medical Attention

Several injury victims wait to seek medical treatment, hoping their pain will disappear. If you delay seeking medical treatment, another driver’s insurance company will permit you to argue that you did not sustain serious injuries. That can affect your just and fair compensation. 

Not Following Your Doctor’s Advice

You need to follow through with your doctor’s recommendations for treatment. One of the biggest mistakes accident victims make is to ignore their doctor’s recommendations for treatment.

Do Not Post Anything on Social Media

Do not remove the post if you have already posted information about the crash or your injuries. However, if you have not yet posted anything, DO NOT DO SO. You need to remember that your claim is no one else’s business. You should assume that anything you post on social media will ultimately become available to the other side. Similarly, you should be very cautious about discussing any aspect of your injury claim with anyone other than close family members, your insurance company, your healthcare professionals, and your lawyer.

Do Not Fail to Obtain Important Information

As indicated in the "To-Do" list above, ensure you obtain information about the other drivers and cars involved in the crash. The information needs to include the other driver’s name, address, Driver’s License Number, and insurance information. 

Never Admit Fault

Even if you believe that you had some fault for causing the crash, you should never admit responsibility. Fault can be a complicated issue that depends on physical evidence, scientific principles, and other witnesses. This is not something that you should attempt to figure out by yourself, especially right after the crash occurred, when you are understandably shaken up. 

Never Leave the Scene

If you are involved in a car crash, do not leave the scene before the police arrive. That can have severe repercussions on motor vehicle accident cases, affecting the ability to obtain fair compensation.