If you have been involved in a car accident in Las Vegas, Henderson, or North Las Vegas, the measures you take soon after the unfortunate incident can have a major impact on your overall health, and on your accident case too. Our Las Vegas car accident lawyers recommend that you do the following:
Assess Injuries
Check on the people involved in the accident. Assess their injuries and your injuries too. Seek emergency medical attention if you or another person in the accident is severely injured and requires immediate medical care. Your number one priority is the health and well-being of yourself and anyone else involved.
Report The Accident
It is essential to call the emergency services and the police to report the accident. Get help by calling 911. If you’re hurt, ask for medical attention. A police officer will come to the scene and make a police report.
Many victims do not contact the police following a car accident. They assume that the damage to their cars is minor and they have suffered few or no injuries. However, they could discover in the ensuing days that the damage to their vehicles is more severe than they had anticipated, or they might experience symptoms of an injury in the days or weeks after their accident.
Although a police report is not mandatory while filing a claim with the negligent driver’s insurance company, it is an essential piece of evidence that provides the insurance company with necessary information regarding your claim.
A police report is an impartial third-party account by a police officer that summarizes the officer’s interpretation of what happened and who bears responsibility.
A police report is necessary to ensure your compensation claim.
The police might issue a traffic citation against the party they believe is responsible for the car accident. A traffic citation will not ultimately prove who is at fault, but it can be used as significant evidence.
Police reports do not determine who bears fault for the accident.
Stay At The Scene Of The Accident
After a collision, do not leave the location. Stay in the vicinity of the accident scene and remove yourself, your passengers, and your motor vehicle from being exposed to further harm. Wait for the police to arrive.
Collect the Other Party’s Information
Some of the information you will need to collect from the at-fault driver is their name, driver’s license number, insurance information, and other relevant details regarding the accident.
Identify Witnesses
Write down the witnesses’ names and contact information. Witnesses may only hang around once the police arrive; even if they do, an officer may not talk to every witness. If you write down their names and contact information, the witnesses may be easier to locate again.
Take Photos And Capture Video Footage of The Wreck
Use your cellphone to capture images of the entire scene and vehicles involved in the accident from various angles. It is essential to take photographs of road signs and road conditions (such as slickness from rain). Check for skid marks left on the road by the vehicles involved in the accident.
Avoid Making Statements Or Giving Details Of The Accident On Social Media
Posts on social media outlets right after an accident can be used against you in an injury lawsuit to question the severity of injuries sustained. While speaking to representatives of other parties involved in the accident, refrain from blaming anyone or accepting blame for the accident.
Get Yourself Assessed For Serious Injuries By Visiting A Hospital
Concussions and internal bleeding do not show obvious symptoms right away. Medical records of injuries sustained can be vital in recovering adequate compensation. It is essential to get your injuries thoroughly assessed and documented too.
Contact An Experienced Car Accident Lawyer Before Filing An Insurance Claim
It is important to remember that insurance companies are businesses that are set up and incorporated to make a profit. The less they pay on claims, the more profit they make.
You do have to file an accident claim shortly after an accident, but you have plenty of time to consult with a Las Vegas car accident attorney first.
After a car accident, you might be shaken up and unprepared to handle an accident investigation’s stressful aspects.
A reputable Las Vegas personal injury attorney will deal with the insurance company and their lawyers on your behalf and demand the compensation you deserve.
Pacific West Injury Law – Experienced 24-Hour Las Vegas Personal Injury Lawyers To Protect Your Legal Rights
Car accidents don’t just occur between nine to five. They can happen at any hour. If the carelessness or negligence of someone else has left you injured in Las Vegas, Henderson, or North Las Vegas, you need the help of an experienced law firm that is open twenty-four hours a day.
At Pacific West Injury Law, we know that personal injuries happen twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, which is why we keep our intake department open to serve our clients when they need us most.
Contact us no matter when your accident occurs. Our offices are open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, to assist you in your hour of need.