Advice From Chicago Car Accident Lawyers About What To Do After A Crash
Last updated on April 29, 2024
After an accident, it is not uncommon for everyone involved to be confused, angry and frustrated about what happened. It is important to remain calm and gain as much information as possible so your attorney can build an effective strategy for your case later.
At Steinberg, Goodman & Kalish, our attorneys help clients assess the damage, evaluate their injuries and work to recover damages and compensation from negligent parties.
The lawyers at Steinberg Goodman & Kalish have recovered millions of dollars for our clients, including multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements. Read more about our car accident case results here.
What Should You Do After A Chicago Car Accident?
There are several steps that you can take after you’ve been in an accident that can help your personal injury claim if you need to file one. These include:
- Get medical assistance for anyone who needs it, call 911 if necessary and move your car to a safe location if possible. However, do not leave the scene of an accident.
- Get as much info as possible. This can include the other driver’s personal information, license plate number, contact information and insurance information.
- Do not admit fault.
- Get the contact information of witnesses to the accident, if there are any.
- Take pictures of the scene of the accident and any vehicle damage.
- Do not give a statement to the police other than your personal information. You are under no obligation to give the police any information other than your driver’s license and so on.
In general, gathering information at the scene of an accident can help if you need to file a personal injury claim. It’s not uncommon for injuries like whiplash or soft tissue back injuries to take a few days to manifest. Even if you don’t seek medical attention right away, if you start to have aches and pains in the days following a crash, it is important to seek medical attention.
Frequently Asked Questions About What To Do After An Accident
It’s natural to have a lot of questions and confusion immediately following an accident. Here, our experienced car accident attorneys answer some of the more commonly asked questions. For answers to your specific questions, we offer free, no-obligation case consultations.
Should I take photos or document the scene of the accident? How should I do it?
It is helpful to take photos at the scene of an accident. Before the vehicles are moved, photographs of the cars and the surrounding area can help identify what happened and who was at fault. Closer photos of the damage can also be helpful. Photos of visible injuries can be helpful.
You can also use your phone to take photos of insurance cards, license plates, driver’s licenses and other contact information from the various witnesses and parties involved.
How do I exchange information with the other driver, and what information should I collect?
In general, names, addresses, phone numbers, insurance company names and policy numbers, driver’s license numbers and license plate numbers are all helpful. A lawyer can contact witnesses and use the information to investigate your car accident case.
When should I report the accident to my insurance company?
It is possible that your insurance policy may have deadlines and time limits for reporting claims. Contacting an experienced auto accident attorney can help you better understand when you should report the incident to your insurance company.
Do Not Sign Anything From An Insurance Company
After the accident, it is important that you do not sign any paperwork from either your insurance carrier or the carrier of the liable party without consulting a lawyer. One of our experienced car accident attorneys can examine any documents from an insurance company and advise you about whether it is in your best interest to sign or not.
Additionally, even if you are given a traffic ticket by police officers on the scene, it does not mean that the other driver is not at fault. Do not let the presence of a ticket frighten you away from contacting a lawyer. Depending on all of the facts of the situation, we might be able to help you recover monetary compensation from the liable party’s insurance carrier.
Contact A Car Accident Attorney For A Free Consultation
If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, schedule a free consultation with an attorney at Steinberg, Goodman & Kalish. We will examine your situation and provide an honest case evaluation. Call us at 872-270-3625 or contact us by completing our online form.