After you get into a collision with another party, it’s important that you know which steps to take next. As a victim, you have certain rights that you can exercise, but there are priorities, such as getting medical help, that have to come first.
If you’ve been hit, remember these five steps. Following them will help you protect yourself and get the compensation you deserve.
Check on your passengers and others involved in the crash
The first thing to do is to check on everyone you can at the scene if possible. See if anyone needs medical attention urgently.
Call 911
The next step is to call 911. You want to have, at a minimum, the police come to the scene. Usually, it’s a good idea to have the fire department, police and emergency medical team come to the scene, because you or others may need medical attention as well as to report what happened to the police.
Agree to go to the hospital
The next thing to do is to agree to go to the hospital. You deserve an opportunity to find out if you have injuries that aren’t yet apparent. Many car crash injuries have delayed onsets, so doing this will help you make sure you know if you have underlying issues that haven’t yet caused problems for you.
Get to know your legal rights
After you get medical care, it’s wise to talk to your attorney about your case. You need to start building your case file with your medical information and other details about the crash, so you can make a reasonable claim.
Make a claim against the at-fault driver
Finally, you should make a claim against the at-fault driver. Doing this will help hold them responsible for your injuries and financial losses. You can see compensation from their insurance, or, in some cases, from other liable third-parties.
Each of these steps will help you get closer to making a claim that gets you the compensation you deserve. Keep them in mind, so you know what to do if you’re caught up in a crash.