What Should You Do if You’re Injured in a Car Accident?

When you get behind the wheel of a vehicle and head out on the road, you’re taking a risk. With all the other drivers with you going at high speeds and sometimes driving poorly, you know that it’s important to pay attention and drive defensively. Safe driving and buckling up can’t always prevent injuries, though. If you’re harmed in a car collision, you need to take even the most minor looking incidents seriously. Medical assistance and legal help are available to assist in your recovery.

Call for Help

You should always inform the police immediately following an accident, even if the incident was a minor fender-bender. Officers will file a report and determine who was at fault. Usually, other emergency services personnel will arrive on the scene to address injuries. If you have severe injuries, you should call 911 or have someone do it for you. If paramedics arrive, let them examine you. The paramedics may transport you directly to the hospital or advise you to visit a doctor.

Seeking Medical Attention

For life-threatening injuries, you’ll go right to the emergency room from the scene of the accident. Some accident victims aren’t sure what to do for mild or minor injuries. A good rule of thumb is to always get medical care following a car collision. You can either go to an urgent care facility or call your family doctor to make an appointment. You should be able to get in on the same day you call. Don’t shrug off a visit to the doctor’s office because you think you’re OK. Some injuries may not develop for days — or even weeks — after the incident. Your doctor will assess your condition and may prescribe treatment accordingly.

Take Pictures

For the purposes of filing an insurance claim and a lawsuit, gather evidence of your injuries. Have someone take some photos of visible signs of damage to your body. Along with the photos, provide the insurance agent and car accident attorney with the details that caused the injuries.

Get Legal Advice

If another driver’s negligence led to the collision, you could be entitled to legal assistance. An experienced car accident lawyer, like a car accident lawyer in Salt Lake City, UT, can represent you in filing a lawsuit to recover damages for medical bills and lost wages at work. Your lawyer will review the accident report and your medical records to build your case.

Don’t assume minor car accident injuries are insignificant. Always get the proper medical care and speak to a reputable injury attorney about the incident.

Thanks to Rasmussen & Miner for their insight into what you should do if you are injured in a car accident.