What Steps to Take After a Car Wreck in Alabama

1. Assess The Situation
2. Call The Police Exchange Information
3. Take Pictures and Notes Get Medical Attention
4. Never Admit Fault
5. Call your Insurance Company
6. Contact a Mobile, Alabama Car Wreck Lawyer at Taylor Martino P.C.

After you experience a car wreck, check on yourself and then the other passengers in your car for injury. Once you have assessed everyone inside your vehicle, look outside. Where are you? What did you hit? Can you see any other people or anyone else in danger? If something outside the car is unsafe – remain inside the vehicle until help arrives. If it is unsafe to stay inside the car, get yourself and anyone else out immediately – move anyone injured as carefully as possible. Remember that both yourself and those who experienced the Alabama car wreck with you may be exhibiting signs of shock, which may mask injuries. Be aware of this condition, and wait for professional help if possible.

It is imperative to always call the police after a car wreck. No matter what the other person involved in the accident says, you must get a police report (no matter how minor) if you have been in a car wreck in Alabama. Make sure you file this report immediately. The police report documents your account of what happened and serves as valuable evidence should your require a Mobile, Alabama Car Wreck Lawyer. It will become a preventative measure to protect against those involved in the accident from making false claims later. You should always make a police report directly after the accident, unless a serious injury whisks you away from the scene. If that is indeed the case, make sure you contact the police as soon as possible to tell your story. Also, always get a copy of the police report and file it in your records.

Even if you believe the accident is minor, make sure you obtain all the other person’s relevant information. Occasionally, the other driver might try to leave the scene of the car wreck or ask you not to report the accident. By no means should you listen to this request. Even minor car wrecks could cause injuries that may not appear instantaneously, but may arise the next day or week. If you wake up the next day with injuries and have failed to take the other person’s information, you have set yourself up for a difficulties tracking the other person down, or even proving the car wreck happened. Be up front, honest, and make sure you take all of the below information:

• Name, address, phone number
• Insurance info (company and policy number)
• Drivers license number
• License plate number
• Make and model of the vehicle
• Vehicle owner’s information if different than driver
• Any witnesses’ contact information
• Information from police officer who responded

If it is safe to do so, take meticulous notes and pictures of the car wreck. Photos can serve as very important evidence when you file your claim and begin the legal process. The best pictures to take are of the following:

• All the vehicles involved
• The inside of every vehicle
• The road
• The street signs
• Any skid marks around the scene
• Debris
• Damage to surrounding land/roads/buildings

Taking pictures and notes immediately following your car wreck in Alabama is your best course of action. If you are physically sound and can accomplish this, you will have strong evidence that stands up in court. While it can be chaotic after a car wreck, this is the best time to take pictures and notes because the evidence is fresh, and it has not been touched or tampered with.

It’s essential to be examined by a medical professional following an accident. Even if you have minor injuries, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. Symptoms such as headaches, dizziness and pain, might not appear for hours or days following a crash. Make sure you get documentation and pictures of any injuries you sustained in the car wreck. You also need to get the appropriate medical treatment. Treatment can be expensive, but don’t try to tough it out. An experienced Mobile, Alabama car wreck lawyer can get you full compensation for your medical bills. Keep records of all medical bills and lost wages, as this will be helpful when you file your personal injury claim.

At no point in time should you admit fault to an accident. Admitting fault may hurt your chances of collecting damages at a later time. Even if you believe you caused the crash, you could be incorrect. There could be may factors that you did not consider that could have contributed to your car wreck. Also, it is possible for both drivers to be partially at fault, so remember to keep your cool and never admit any wrongdoing. Admitting fault to a police officer or an insurance agent will be difficult to overcome if you actually were not at fault and decide to pursue a claim later.

Unfortunately your insurance company may try to take advantage of you. There have been instances when they try to get information out of you that can assist them to decrease the value of, or deny your claim. Do not give any insurance company your statement, do not admit fault, or sign anything without talking to an experienced Mobile, Alabama car wreck lawyer first.