ACCIDENT GUIDELINES
Getting into an accident is very stressful, and with so much information it can be confusing. If you are involved in a wreck, just remain calm and follow these guidelines to ensure that you are protected legally, physically, AND emotionally.
1.) MOVE YOUR CAR TO SAFETY IF POSSIBLE
If your car is operational, move yourself to the safest place possible. Do your best to avoid further damage to your car, and more importantly, injuries to yourself.
2.) CALL 911
Regardless of injuries or damages, ALWAYS call 911. You may feel completely fine after being rear-ended, but most of our clients report that they do not feel the pain associated with the accident until up to a WEEK LATER! Even if your car doesn’t show visible damages, it is still possible that there are damages that you cannot see that will surprise you later on. Calling 911 to document the scene is critical to increasing your chance of recovering money for the treatment you will need, repair costs, and pain and suffering.
3.) GATHER THE IMPORTANT INFORMATION
A.) Insurance Information:
- The authorities will take the insurance information when they arrive, BUT getting it yourself ensures that all information is complete and correct. It can take days for a police report to become available. Sometimes the reports require amendments, are incomplete, or the information may not be correct. Be sure to get this information from EVERYONE involved in the accident.
Important Insurance Information:
- Insurance Carrier (Geico, State Farm, Progressive, etc.)
- Policy Number
B.) Police Report Number
- The officer that responds to the call will provide all involved with a police report number. Take a picture of this document, and keep it in a safe place. You NEED to provide a police report to your attorney so they can prove to a judge that you were in an accident in the first place.
- TIP: you can take a picture of insurance documents, police report #, and accident photos on your phone and directly send them to your attorney.
4.) SEEK TREATMENT
Your health is the most important, especially after an accident. If you feel significant pain – alert the officer that you need an ambulance. When someone hits you with their vehicle, they are responsible for your injury costs. DO NOT risk your health. IMPORTANT: If you are not in immediate pain, or do not need hospital care but would like to seek chiropractic care, physical therapy, or other related treatments.
5.) CONTACT YOUR ATTORNEY’S OFFICE!
We at Fry | Goehring are YOUR advocates. We have a huge network of healthcare providers that we can share with you. After years of experience, we have found a core group of healthcare providers that we trust with our own health care and will provide YOU with exceptional care. As always, your health is the most important. We will do everything in our power to make sure you come out of an accident healthy and happy.
