There are several things you can do after a car accident in Tahlequah, Oklahoma to preserve your ability to seek and receive compensation for your injuries and financial losses.
Here is a list of what to do after a car accident in Oklahoma.
Contrary to popular belief, insurance companies work to benefit themselves, not you.
When you are involved in an auto accident, both your insurance company, and that of the person or persons responsible for the the accident, will endeavor to pay you as little as possible on your insurance claim.
Therefore, it is important to know what to do after a car accident in Oklahoma. Gathering evidence will increase your chances of being fully compensated for your injuries and losses.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Oklahoma
To start with, you should always keep a camera phone or a disposable camera in your glove compartment.
Taking photos and video of the scene will allow you record evidence that might otherwise be missed.
Here are several other things you should do after an auto accident in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
1. Leave your car where it is.
Unless it is absolutely necessary to avoid further injury or accident, do not move your car from where it landed after the accident.
This will allow the police to observe the final position of the vehicle and the skid marks to reconstruct the accident.
If you must move your vehicle, if at all possible, use your camera phone to take photos of the final position of the vehicles involved before moving them.
2. Try to stay calm.
Although it may be difficult, you should try to stay calm after the accident. Losing your head will only make a bad situation worse.
Most importantly, someone needs to remain calm in order to assist those who have injured in the accident, and to call for emergency medical attention.
If you are too worked up, you might miss key evidence that might otherwise ensure your ability to be fully compensated for your losses.
3. Get checked out by a doctor,
Always have a doctor look at you after the accident. Get checked out even if you feel fine.
Often, the shock and rush of emotions immediately following the accident will mask the pain and you may not realize that you have been injured.
What’s more, some injuries don’t have immediate symptoms and are difficult to fully assess early on.
If you don’t seek medical attention immediately following the accident, the liable insurance companies might use this as a basis for denying your claim, even when the full extent of your injuries has become apparent.
So, always see a doctor after accident, regardless of how you feel.
4. Get a police report.
Get a police report, even for minor car accidents.
For legal purposes, the police report is the the official record of the accident and will provide the insurance companies the details they need to decide how your claim should be processed.
In addition, a detailed and accurate police report can prevent you from being held responsible for any claims that fall outside of what has been detailed in the police report.
5. Collect information.
Collect information from the other drivers involved in the accident.
Be sure to collect the insurance details and contact information of all other drivers involved.
Also, record the license plate number and makes and models of each vehicle involved in the accident.
You can even use your camera phone to take photos and video to record evidence, which can be used to track down any driver who flees the scene of the accident or who provides you with false contact information.
6. Find witnesses to the car accident.
People don’t always tell the truth, especially when they are suspected of having done something wrong.
Having an impartial witness to the accident and who can attest to the truth may work in your favor when the liability for the accident is being disputed.
Look for witnesses around the scene of accident and get their names, phone numbers and addresses.
You can even use your camera phone to record an audio or video testimony from these witnesses at the scene of the accident.
7. Contact your insurance company.
Contact your insurance company via their 800 number within 48 hours of your accident, if not sooner. In fact, in some cases you may want to call your insurance company from the scene of the accident.
If you are too injured or upset to do so, you might ask an officer on the scene if they would willing to speak with your insurance agent and provide them with the details they need to begin processing your claim.
8. Consult with an attorney.
Last but not least, when you have been involved in an accident, you should always contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
An experienced personal injury attorney will make sure that you take the necessary steps to preserve evidence that will increase your chances of being fully compensated.
In addition, your attorney will assume the burden of dealing with the insurance companies, so that you can focus on seeking medical treatment and recovering from any injuries that you have sustained.
Low-cost Strategy Session
For a low-cost consultation with a Tahlequah personal injury lawyer, call 918-458-2677 or toll free at 1-888- 447-7262.
Or, if you prefer e-mail, you may enter a legal question in the form at the top right of this page and we’ll contact you by e-mail as soon as possible.
