After a severe car accident, most people are in shock for some time. During this period, you may not make the best decisions as it relates to a personal injury claim later on. The nature of shock can mask the symptoms and severity of an injury, causing a person to incur even more damage while they think they are in fine condition.
Making sure the right information is recorded
In the minutes and hours after a car accident, the most important concern is your health. Your first action immediately after a car accident should be to assess the immediate situation, whether any injuries need attending to, and whether there are any hazardous conditions that you need to remove yourself or your loved ones from. The second step is to call emergency services to treat you, anyone riding in your car, as well as the other driver and passengers. Once that task is done, and there aren’t any more pressing concerns, you need to begin documenting the accident. Here some of the most important things you can do for a potential personal injury claim:
- Take lots of photos: It is of the utmost importance that you take pictures of the damage, the orientation of the vehicles, the conditions on the road, and any visible injuries. These photos can provide necessary evidence of driver error and the circumstances that led to a collision.
- Record the other driver’s information: You need to record the other person’s driver’s license and vehicle registration information. You should take down any insurance information as well as the driver’s address and the names of their passengers.
- Make a police report: It is common for the other driver to change their story between the time they’re speaking with you and the police that respond to your call. You need to make sure that you present all the facts of the accident in the most accurate way possible.
Filing a personal injury claim
Michigan is a no-fault insurance state. This designation means that each party will be dealing with their own insurance provider for damages. If you or a family member incurred injuries during an auto collision, the health effects of that damage might not present itself for a long time to come. Given the lasting impact of such accidents, you need to find a lawyer with experience in personal injury claims to make sure you explore your options for compensation.