West Virginia Car Accident Lawyers Explain What to Do after a Crash
It can be difficult to know what to do when you are involved in a car accident. Auto accidents are sudden, frightening experiences, and it can be several minutes or even hours before the shock wears off. However, the period following an accident, from the first few moments to the first few days, is a critical time. Knowing what to do after a crash in WV can help protect injured parties and ensure they receive proper medical care and compensation for their injuries.
The West Virginia car accident lawyers at Burke, Schultz, Harman & Jenkinson have been helping victims of car, truck, and motorcycle collisions in WV for more than 30 years. Below are some suggestions based on our years of experience helping people through the difficult period following a car accident.
What to Do after a Crash in WV: Collect Information
The safety of yourself and others should always be your first priority immediately after an automobile accident. If anyone is injured, call 911 right away and administer first aid if you are qualified to do so. If you are able, while you are waiting for the police to arrive, exchange information with the other driver, including driver’s license and insurance information.
You may also want to get the names and contact information of any witnesses who saw the accident. If you have a camera, take pictures of the damage to the vehicles and the entire scene. You can use the camera on your phone if you need to.
If you were unable to collect information at the accident scene due to injuries, you may be able to obtain this information from the police accident report, or your WV automobile accident attorney may be able to get it for you. It is an especially good idea to get a copy of the police report if you were unable to give a statement to the police at the time of the accident. You will want to review the report to make sure it accurately describes what happened and is not biased by the other driver’s version of the accident.
If you reach out to the WV auto accident lawyers at Burke, Schultz, Harman & Jenkinson for help, we can assist with gathering information and evidence. Your attorney can use this information to determine if another driver or party was negligent or at fault in causing the crash in which you were injured.
Seeking Medical Treatment after a Crash in WV
If you were seriously injured in the accident, of course, you should seek medical attention right away. But even if you were lucky enough to walk away without any broken bones or bleeding, you should still see a doctor to get checked out.
A doctor can examine you for injuries and may recommend X-rays or other medical tests, an appointment with a specialist, or other care to make sure you are okay. Many serious injuries are not immediately apparent—including head, neck, and back problems and internal injuries—but the sooner they can be identified and diagnosed, the better your chances will be for as complete a recovery as possible.
Documenting your injuries after a car crash is important, especially if someone else negligently caused your injuries. Insurance companies will sometimes go to great lengths to avoid paying for claims if they can find a way to do so. Establishing that your injuries are related to the accident, and not a pre-existing condition or other circumstances, is critical in pursuing damages for personal injury after a car crash.
Contact Experienced West Virginia Car Accident Lawyers for Help
It is never too early to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer soon after your accident. Your attorney can take immediate action to collect and preserve important evidence before it is lost and can look out for your interests every step of the way, making sure that you are receiving the proper medical care and that you are not taken advantage of by an insurance company that is too quick to settle your claim and take away your rights to fair compensation.
The West Virginia car accident lawyers at Burke, Schultz, Harman & Jenkinson offer a free consultation to assess your claim and help you determine the next best steps to take. There is no obligation, and we only collect a fee if we recover for you. Call us at 304-263-0900 or complete our online contact form to learn how we can help.