What Should You Do in the First 48 Hours After a Car Crash?

The first few hours after a car crash are some of the most important. The things you do and say at this point are going to have a big effect on your health and on any claim that you may need to bring for losses and damages. One thing to do during the first 48 hours is contact an Orem, UT car accident lawyer, but there are also some other important things you need to do.

Get Medical Help

Getting medical help is vitally important, first of all for your health. If you don’t get care within that 48-hour window, there’s a good chance that minor injuries could turn into something much more serious. There’s also a chance that you might dismiss symptoms of a serious injury, thinking that they will go away with a little time. Visit a doctor as quickly as possible and tell them you’ve been in a car accident. The doctor will then know what to look for to make sure your health is protected.

But getting medical help is also vitally important to protecting your claim. If your injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, you have the right to bring a claim against their insurance company for your losses and damages. But the longer the time between the moment of the crash and the moment you get medical help, the more likely it is the insurance company will try to dismiss your injuries or even claim they did not happen in the accident at all. Going to get checked out as soon as possible protects your legal rights as well as your physical health.

Report the Crash

It’s important to report a crash as soon as possible. Ideally, you will have been able to call 911 at the very least, but if for some reason you were unable to do that due to the severity of your injuries, make sure you access the police report as soon as you’re able and inform them if anything in it isn’t accurate. You’ll also want to report the accident to your insurance company so they can start the process of reaching out to the at-fault driver’s insurer.

When you talk to the insurance company, however, be sure to tell them only the basic facts. Don’t speculate about fault in any way, and don’t agree to be recorded. Once you’ve made the initial report, you want to refer all further contact from the insurance company to your lawyer.

Talk to an Orem, UT Car Accident Lawyer

As soon as you’re able to, and ideally within the first day or two of the accident, contact a lawyer to find out where you stand. A lawyer will be able to evaluate the evidence, give you a good idea of whether it’s smart to bring a claim, and then we’ll help you use the evidence in negotiations with the insurance company and even go to court for you if that becomes necessary.

After a crash, call us at Johnson Livingston Attorneys in Orem, UT at 385-275-8708 for a free consultation.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »