What to Do When You Get in an Accident: A Complete Guide

What to Do When You Get in an Accident

Car accidents can be stressful, overwhelming, and frustrating. Victims of car accidents often times are confused of what to do after the car accident. An accident can leave you injured, unable to work, and with piles of bills. Not knowing what to do in this situation is normal, but it is important that you reach out to a law firm that knows what to do.

In the time after an accident, the evidence of the collision can quickly disappear. This evidence could be crucial to proving fault, and ultimately, getting you the financial compensation that you deserve.

Additionally, in Pennsylvania, car accident victims generally only have 2 years to file their lawsuit. Failure to file within 2 years could result in the forfeiture of your claim, and your compensation. If you are unsure of your next steps following an accident, it is crucial to consult with an experienced car accident attorney to protect your best interests.

How to Be Prepared Before You Hit the Road

Accidents happen, and they happen often. With this in mind, you need to be prepared before you hit the road. Before you get on the road:

• Make sure that you have your auto insurance information and your registration in your vehicle – If you are involved in a crash, Pennsylvania law generally requires you to provide your insurance information and your registration to the other vehicles involved.
• Put emergency supplies in your vehicle – Car accidents are dangerous, and they could cause you or someone else serious injuries. In the event that you are involved in a crash, these medical supplies might be necessary.
• Be aware of safe driving habits – You should be aware of safe driving habits before beginning to drive. Utilizing safe driving techniques is your best protection against being involved in a car collision, although it will not completely prevent a collision.

Immediate Actions to Take at the Accident Scene

You likely will not know what to do after a car accident. This is understandable. After being in a car accident, there are several immediate steps that you should do:

• Your first priority should be your health. Make sure that you are out of the danger and that you are not injured. If you are injured, seek medical treatment immediately. If you are unsure if you are injured, make sure to seek medical attention just in case.
• After you have prioritized your health, call 911 to create a police report. This documentation is important for determining who was at fault for the collision, which will be crucial to your personal injury claim.
• If you are able to, document the scene of the collision by taking photographs/ videos and talking to witnesses who saw the event.
• Remember, never admit fault or place blame at the scene of the crash. Determining fault can be tricky, and any statements made could be used against you by insurance companies.

Information to Collect After a Car Accident

If you have been involved in a car accident, gathering information at the scene of the crash is very important to your claim. If you are able to, after a crash:

• Write down the names and phone numbers of all the people involved in the crash.
• Get the insurance information, license plate number, and registration number of all the vehicles involved in the crash.
• Take photographs/ videos of the scene and all the vehicles involved, including the damage to your vehicle and to the other vehicles.
• Write down the names and contact information of any witnesses. If there was a witness to the crash, they might help determine that the other party was at-fault.
• Check for surrounding cameras. If there are surrounding cameras that captured the event, this could be crucial to your insurance claim and determining who caused the crash. Most often, cameras store footage for only a limited amount of time, and it could be a key component to your claim.

Remember, while interacting with others at the scene, stay calm and polite. During this stressful time, it could be easy to let your emotions get the best of you, but any actions or conversations that happen at the scene may be used against you and your claim.

How to Properly Report the Accident

Reporting your accident is not only important for your claim, but it is important to follow the law of Pennsylvania. Under Pennsylvania law 75 Pa.C.S. § 3746, the driver of a vehicle is required to immediately provide notice of the accident to a police department if the crash caused 1) injury or death to any person; or 2) disabling damage to any vehicle involved.

To ensure that you comply with Pennsylvania law, after a crash:

• Call 911 and inform them of all the parties involved and if anyone sustained injuries.
• If a police officer responds, inform them the events of the crash, but make sure to not admit fault or place blame.
• If no officer responds to the scene, you can file a police report online or at the local police station. Importantly, according to Pennsylvania law 75 Pa.C.S. § 3747, if no officer responds and the crash resulted in bodily injury or property damage, then the driver must forward a written report of the accident to the local police department.
• After contacting the police, contact your insurance company, and tell them how the collision happened. Again, do not make any statements about who was at fault for the accident.

It is important to immediately report the crash to the police and to your insurance company to preserve your injury claim, and your potential compensation.

Working with Insurance Companies After an Accident

After an accident, it is important to report your car accident claim as soon as you can. Remember, when talking with your insurance company, make sure to not admit fault or place blame on another party. Car crashes happen fast, sometimes in a matter of seconds, and determining who was at-fault in the accident can be a difficult and lengthy process. Let your attorney focus on determining who caused the accident while you prioritize your physical and mental recovery.

Legal Considerations and When to Hire an Attorney

After being injured in a car accident, victims are commonly left with severe physical injuries, an inability to work, and severe financial stress with piles of medical expenses and unpaid mortgages. The stress that victims usually have after an accident can be unbearable, and they may think they have nowhere to turn to. Their livelihood was derailed, and their ability to be compensated relies on whether or not the insurance companies think that they were at fault, or if they were seriously injured.

These insurance companies are not looking out for you. They are prioritizing their profits by offering low-ball settlement offers and delaying your compensation. Our experienced Pennsylvania car crash attorneys at Edgar Snyder & Associates understand how to deal with these insurance companies, and they know how to apply Pennsylvania law to take legal action and determine who was at fault for your collision.

If you have been involved in a motor vehicle collision in Pennsylvania, contact our locally-trusted lawyers at Edgar Snyder & Associates for a consultation. The consultation is free, and there is never a fee unless we get money for you!

Need Help in Pennsylvania? Contact Us

If you were involved in a car accident and you don’t know what to do after the accident, contact our car crash attorneys at Edgar Snyder & Associates. Our attorneys can level the playing field and fight against the insurance adjusters to get you the compensation that you deserve! Our experienced attorneys at Edgar Snyder & Associates have been fighting for the injured party against insurance companies since 1982, securing over 2 billion dollars. Our attorneys know the “ins-and-outs” of car accident cases, and they know how to approach them to get the best outcome for your case. We will work to best ensure that all important evidence is preserved, giving you the best chance at a successful outcome. This is why it’s important to speak to an experienced car accident attorney early, before evidence disappears and memories fade.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Should I file a police report if I was not at fault?

A: Yes. If you were involved in an accident, you should always file a police report. Determining who was at-fault in the collision is a difficult determination, and the police report is important for this determination. Without it, you may have no clue who was actually responsible for the collision.

Q: What do I do after an accident that was not my fault?

A: If you think the accident was not your fault, you should contact an experienced Pennsylvania car accident attorney immediately to protect your best interests. Our attorneys at Edgar Snyder & Associates will gather evidence from the crash that might help to prove that the other party was at fault for the collision.  

Q: What happens if the other driver does not have insurance?

A: If the other driver does not have insurance coverage, this could create difficulty for your recovery. However, if you have an uninsured insurance policy, then this policy might provide for a recovery for you. Additionally, there may be another responsible party for the crash, who might have an insurance policy. Our attorneys at Edgar Snyder & Associates have handled cases involving un-insured motorists, and they are ready and prepared to handle your case.

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