What to Do After a Car Accident That’s Not Your Fault

Car accidents occur daily on the roadways of Arizona. The Arizona Department of Transportation reported a total of 127,056 car accidents in 2018. Of those total car accidents, 916 were fatal. These situations can be incredibly overwhelming for all individuals involved. No one ever plans for a car accident, but it is important to be aware of the steps to take after being involved in an accident. Listed below are some helpful tips on what to do after an accident that’s not your fault. 

Call The Police

The first thing you want to do after a car accident is to contact the police. You want to get help as soon as possible. Once you have made that call, check to see if everyone is okay. If someone is severely injured, make sure the ambulance has been contacted. If they are not in harm’s way, don’t move them because you don’t know what type of injury they have. While you wait for the police and the medical professionals to arrive, try to stay calm. Once the police arrive, they will write up a police report and try to determine what happened. This document is very important when filing a legal claim. Make sure you get a copy of the police report before you leave the accident scene. 

Contact Information

Make sure you get the other driver’s contact information such as driver’s license, name, phone number, address, and insurance information. This information is very important because both insurance companies will be involved. You want to make sure you receive the maximum amount of compensation for all of your damages. 

Call Your Insurance Company

Regardless of who is at fault, you need to contact your insurance company to let them know you have been involved in a car accident. They will need to know information like the date and time of the accident, the damages to the car, and any injuries. All of this will help them determine a compensation amount for the property damage and possible medical costs. 

Document Everything

While you are waiting for the police to arrive, start documenting everything. Take pictures and videos of the cars and the accident scene. Write down the time, the current weather conditions, and anything you notice about the scene. If you see any witnesses around, ask them for a statement. All of this information will help you when you file a legal claim. This will be important pieces of evidence to prove to a jury what happened at the time of the accident. 

Finding An Arizona Automobile Accident Attorney 

Automobile accidents can be a very overwhelming experience. You don’t have to go through these situations alone. The auto accident attorneys at ELG are here you help you. Our attorneys will help you understand all of your legal options and answer all of your questions along the way. We will guide you with great legal advice and help you recover the maximum amount of compensation for the injuries you sustained. Contact our highly trained  Phoenix attorneys at ELG to set up a consultation today. Call us at either Phoenix or Mesa Arizona law offices at (623) 877-3600.