Accidents happen. Even if you’re a careful driver, you can end up in a car accident. Afterwards, you may be stunned, dizzy, enraged, or, in the worst case scenario, injured. If you are injured in an auto accident due to someone else’s negligence, you should contact a McCue Law Firm personal injury attorney. Our Bangor-based law firm serves clients across the state of Maine. Learn more about personal injury cases and auto accident cases.
If you are uninjured, there are straightforward steps you should take after an accident. Learning these steps before you are in an accident will help you be more prepared to handle the stressful aftermath of an auto accident if you are in one. Continue reading to learn more, and if you’re in need of a Maine personal injury lawyer, be sure to contact McCue Law Firm.
Check for Injuries
After the car accident, determine whether anyone is injured — in your vehicle, other vehicles on the scene, or passersby. If someone is injured, call 911. If you are seriously injured, try not to move and wait for a medical professional to assist you.
You should call 911 whether or not someone is injured. The police who respond will fill out an accident report and document the scene. This documentation is important if you end up filing a personal injury claim or hire a personal injury attorney.
Get to Safety
If you’re able to, move to the side of the road. If your car is safe to drive and is blocking the road or causing a hazard where it is, pull it over. If you can’t move your vehicle, leave it there and get yourself somewhere safe.
Make An Accurate Record
When the police arrive at the scene, make sure you tell the officer exactly what happened. While you may not know all the facts, tell them what you do know. Don’t speculate or misstate what happened. If you are unsure whether or not you are injured, tell them that, don’t be tough and say that you aren’t.
Take Pictures
If your cell phone isn’t damaged, take pictures of the vehicles and any visible damage. If you have visible injuries, be sure to document them as well. Do not take photos if the scene is dangerous or if it interferes with the police investigation. If you aren’t able to take photos in the moment, do so as soon as possible after the accident.
Exchange Information
The police officer on the scene should obtain the contact information for all parties involved. If you skipped the step where you call the police, you should obtain the name, address, and telephone number of everyone involved in the accident — including passengers. You should also get their insurance information. If there are witnesses, ask them for their contact info as well, in case you or your personal injury attorney need to contact them in the future.
If the police responded to the accident, you should receive the police report number. You, or your personal injury lawyer, can use that number to obtain the official police report. If your accident occurred on a state highway, you may need to request the accident number from a state officer.
Report The Accident To Your Insurance Company
You should call your insurance company as soon as possible. Find out if you have any medical benefits as part of your coverage and what you need to do to obtain that coverage. They will also let you know what the next steps in the process of filing your claim will be.
The insurance claims process depends on who was at fault and the types of coverage you and the other driver have. Insurance claims for auto accidents can be a lengthy process, especially when it comes to determining fault.
Call A Personal Injury Attorney
One of the most important things you can do after an auto accident is consult with a personal injury lawyer. A good personal injury attorney will protect your rights and make sure that any valuable evidence concerning your case is not destroyed. After an accident, insurance companies will want to take statements, and it’s important to receive legal advice before providing your statement. If you work with a personal injury attorney from McCue Law Office in Bangor, we will be able to advise you on how to make sure you are fully compensated. Plus, our personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means we don’t get paid until you do.
Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer – Bangor
If you have been injured in an auto accident due to the negligence of someone else, you may be entitled to compensation. A personal injury attorney at McCue Law Office in Bangor can help you secure that compensation. Don’t try to go it alone — let our Maine law firm help. After all, there’s no risk to you because we don’t get paid unless you do. Along with personal injury cases, our Maine law firm also specializes in bankruptcy, social security disability, workers’ compensation, and real estate.
Schedule a free consultation and see what sets our personal injury lawyers apart. Let us relieve financial stress so that you can focus on healing, both physically and mentally. If you found this blog post to be useful, consider reading our other personal injury law posts: