Being involved in a car accident is never going to be a pleasant experience and especially so if you have been injured through no fault of your own. Knowing what to do next can be a worry but taking the right steps after a car accident can ensure you stand the best chance of securing compensation if you decide to make a claim.
What should I do immediately after a car accident?
- At the scene of the accident, make sure everyone is safe and out of the way of any oncoming traffic. Avoid staying in the vehicle if you are on a motorway or any other type of main road.
- Call the police to report the accident. They may decide not to attend if there are no serious injuries and all parties have exchanged details but best to call them just in case.
- Seek medical attention as soon as possible, no matter how minor the injury appears at first.
- Once you are in a safe place, try and obtain all the details of the other party/parties involved. You will need full names, contact telephone numbers and insurance details, including the policy number and car registration details and the car make and model.
- Note down the location and time of day the accident happened, what happened, the road conditions, how many people were involved and their ages and what damage was caused to cars and property.
- Remain calm and polite to the third party, but don't admit you were at fault for the accident, even if you think you were.
- Gather any information you can from any witnesses to the accident. Ask for their details, including an address and telephone number. An independent witness can be useful to prove who was at fault in an accident.
- Take pictures of the location of the cars and any damage before they are moved, but only if it is safe to do so. It can also be helpful to photograph the scene as a whole including road markings and signs.
- Make a full report to your own insurance company about the car accident.
If you need medical attention
If you are taken to A&E after the accident or need to attend later, the hospital staff will record details of your injury in your medical records. Make sure that they accurately record how the accident happened.
If you need to attend your GP for advice or for a sick note, again make sure that the GP records how the accident happened.
What should I do next?
Keep a record of all your expenses related to the car accident including any loss of earnings if you can’t work because of the accident. Other expenses would include trips to the hospital or GP, parking expenses, taxis and public transport. If you decide to make a claim, your car accident solicitor will advise you about what you can claim as a result of your accident.
Keep a record of how your injuries are progressing as you recover over the coming days and weeks.
If you decide to make a claim
Contact the Kerr Brown specialist car accident team to seek advice as soon as possible so that they can contact the other driver’s insurance company to start your claim.
Making a claim for road traffic accident compensation can be complicated. There is a great deal of evidence required both to prove the other party caused your injury and to support the compensation amount you are claiming. That is why you should ensure you seek advice from an expert car accident solicitor. Only an expert car accident solicitor will understand fully all the ways in which you should be compensated.
The Kerr Brown specialist car accident team have substantial experience in dealing with car accident claims and will be able to advise you on your specific circumstances. Your solicitor will ask you questions about your accident in order to assess what evidence may be available and required to support your claim.
For more information on how our specialist solicitors can help you make your car accident claim, please call our friendly team on 0141 413 5902 or start your claim now.