I Just Crashed My Car – Now What do I Do?
Car crashes are frightening experiences, and our natural tendency to panic is completely understandable. There are certain steps you should take after a car accident that can help you later if you or someone else suffers an injury as a result.
- Call the police – always. Regardless of who is “to blame” in the situation, calling your local Tennessee police is the best idea, as you may need their official incident report later.
- Call your insurance company. Even if it’s a slight fender-bender, make sure to call your insurance company. What looks like a small dent or bump could actually be a far more serious problem.
- Take lots of pictures. Document the damage to your car and any other cars or property as soon as possible. This can help you if there’s conflicting evidence during an injury trial.
- Make an appointment with a doctor, even if you don’t feel hurt. If you are seriously injured in a car accident, you can request medical transport. If you don’t feel injured, then make an appointment with your doctor for a basic checkup. Sometimes, it can take a few days for an injury to truly be felt. Absolutely see a doctor if you experience any swelling, bruising or nausea.
- Speak with a personal injury attorney. Your insurance company is there to help you if you’re in an accident, but claim denials are more common than you might think. Make sure to speak to an attorney if you were injured, or if another party claims to be injured because of the accident.
There are also a few things you should avoid doing after an accident:
- Don’t admit fault or negligence
- Do not give a statement to the other person’s insurance company
- Don’t sign any paperwork without seeing a lawyer first
- Don’t say you’re not injured before seeking medical advice
- Don’t try to broker a deal with another driver to claim a less serious accident
The most important thing to do after a car accident in Tennessee is to take care of your health – but calling an attorney is a close second. The team at Lowery, Lowery & Cherry, PLLC has years of experience protecting car accident victims in Lebanon. Give us a call if you have questions, so we can give you the answers.