A car crash can be a harrowing experience, and you may find that your adrenaline surges in the aftermath. However, if you suffer an injury in the wreck and fail to take certain steps following the incident, your lack of action could hurt the strength of your personal injury claim.
Per AARP, many people feel too shaken up following an accident to think and act rationally. Thus, it benefits you to educate yourself about what to do in this scenario ahead of time. When you find yourself involved in a Connecticut car wreck, make sure to take these three steps.
1. Get the authorities on the scene
Failing to call the authorities to a crash scene may lead to numerous complications if you want to pursue a claim later. To avoid this, call the authorities, even after a minor fender-bender. Then, note the law enforcement officer’s name and badge number and be sure, too, to secure a copy of the incident report.
2. Get checked out by medical professionals
After an accident, you should seek medical attention right away. Even if you think you are okay, it is a good idea to get checked out by the EMTs on scene or a medical facility within hours of the accident. Be sure to keep your medical records. If you decide to pursue a personal injury claim, your medical records help demonstrate the severity of your injuries and your need for compensation.
3. Document the scene of the accident
It may benefit you, too, to document the crash scene as much as possible. Use your phone to take pictures of the cars involved from multiple angles. If the road or environmental conditions contributed to the wreck, document them, too.
Keeping the records associated with your accident is important even if you do not have a personal injury case. Consider not only obtaining these important records and documents but also making copies and storing them electronically.
