Steps to Take After an Accident
Taking the proper steps after a Georgia auto accident, including retaining a Norcross auto accident attorney, can help preserve evidence for your claim against the negligent party.
If you were injured in an auto accident due to someone else’s negligence, what you do after the accident can have an impact on how successful your injury claim is. This is one of the reasons why it is important to retain a Norcross auto accident attorney early on. At Zimmerman & Associates, we can help you build a strong case against the at-fault party. With over four decades of experience, our skilled attorneys know exactly what you should and should not do after you have been involved in a collision. Here is a look at some of the most important steps you should take after a Georgia auto accident.
Stay at the Scene and Exchange Information
The first step is to remain at the scene. If you leave the scene of an accident without properly exchanging information, it can be declared a hit and run, even if you were not the one at fault. You should check on all involved parties and contact the police if there are injuries. Be sure you have everyone’s contact information, especially witnesses. Sometimes a witness may leave before the police arrive, or the officer completing the accident report may not get every witness’s information jotted down.
Do Not Admit Fault
Be careful what you say to any other involved parties or law enforcement. You want to be extremely cautious that you do not give them something that can be used to claim that you admitted fault at the scene. Even something as simple as ‘I’m sorry,’ or telling a witness that you did not see the vehicle before the impact can put your case in jeopardy.
Take Scene Photos
If you are not seriously injured and placed in the back of an ambulance, taking scene photos can be a big help to your case. You should document everything, including vehicle damage and the conditions when the accident occurred. Perhaps it was raining out, or there were bushes that were overgrown and had covered the nearby stop sign. These are important elements to determining liability. If someone goes back weeks later to take photos, the weather conditions will not be identical, and other hazards could have been removed or changed.
Inform Your Insurance Company
You need to put your insurance company on notice as soon as possible as well. This will help them get an adjuster assigned and set up the claim with the other side’s insurance. Be cautious about giving any statements to your insurance company, and you should never agree to give a recorded statement to the other side without speaking with an attorney first.
Seek Medical Treatment
It is important to seek medical treatment right away. Even if you do not think your injuries are serious, failure to see a doctor can result in the other side claiming you were not injured in the accident. In some cases, soft tissue injuries can take a day or two to fully develop. If you wait a month before going to the doctor, the other side will claim your injuries are not related to the accident.
Contact a Norcross Auto Accident Attorney
Retaining a Norcross auto accident attorney early on is essential to building a strong case against the negligent party. If you have been injured in an accident, contact Zimmerman & Associates today to schedule a free consultation.