The first thing most people do after a major accident is call 911. However, if you’ve ever been involved in a minor fender bender, you know how tempting it can be to leave the scene after exchanging phone numbers with the other drivers. You figure you can snap a picture of his car and license plate with your phone. That’s because nobody wants to spend their whole day on the side of the road waiting for the cops. However, your Atlanta car accident lawyer will tell you – there’s never a good reason for this. There are certain things you need to do immediately following any motor vehicle accident,
There are 3 Things You Always Need to Do After an Accident
If you get into any sort of accident, there are three things you need to do. This is the best way to ensure that you’re safe. It’s also the best way to preserve any evidence your Atlanta car accident lawyer may need.
The first thing you need to do is call 911. The cops will come out to the scene and do a thorough investigation of the accident scene after you call 911. They’ll look to see if anybody’s hurt. They’ll also get an idea of what happened. They’ll talk to you and the other driver. They’ll get statements from any eyewitnesses. They’ll even take pictures of the scene in case the accident reconstructionist needs it later,
The second thing you need to do after a car crash is going to the hospital. It doesn’t matter who you are. There’s no way for you to know for sure if you’ve been hurt, You could have internal injuries like a concussion. If left untreated, these can be deadly,
Finally, once the scene is cleared and you know you’re okay, you need to call our office. Talk to an experienced Atlanta car accident lawyer. They can give you instructions on who you can and cannot talk to. They’ll also reach out to the insurance company right away.
What if the Other Driver Offers to Cover the Damage if I Don’t Call 911?
Every now and then, when people get into a car wreck, they agree to handle it outside of insurance. This is common when the damage is less than a few hundred dollars. It doesn’t make sense to have your rates go up if the damage to your car is less than your deductible. Years ago, this was quite common. But years ago, there weren’t thousands of people running around with false identifications and open warrants.
If the other driver asks to resolve the crash without calling the cops, you need to say no. First, your Atlanta car accident lawyer needs the police report. Second, you have no idea who you’re dealing with. They could you false or expired insurance information, they could be driving a stolen car. You have no clue. And if they’re drunk driving, the only way to prove it is the have the cops run a breathalyzer. The bottom line is that you should never agree to leave the scene of the crash without calling the police.
Is There Any way to Undo the Damage?
If you left the scene of the crash without calling the cops, all is not lost, Your Atlanta car accident lawyer can try to track down the person who hit you, the worst case, they can help you file a first-party claim with your own insurance company. This isn’t ideal. They’d rather find the person who hit you. If you have pictures of the accident scene or their car, it could help.
The other thing your Atlanta car accident lawyer can do is hire an investigator to track down the other driver. But you’d only want to do this if there was a lot of money at stake. If you suffered thousands of dollars at stake, it’ll be worth hiring an expert to find the other driver.
It’s a Good Idea to Call and Talk to an Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer
It’s hard to know when you need a lawyer and when you can handle things yourself, the good news is that you can meet with a skilled Atlanta car accident lawyer for free. Sit down with someone who’s handled dozens of cases like yours before. They can answer any questions you may have. They can even give you an idea of what your case may be worth. Call today and schedule your free, initial consultation.
