The 4 “Cs” for Protecting Yourself in a Car Accident

Anyone living and driving in the Atlanta area is at risk of being in a car accident. If you are unfortunate enough to be in a wreck, you must take the proper steps to protect yourself both physically and legally, especially if you or a passenger is injured.

Dunwoody Attorney Chris Conway has provided an easy to remember outline of what you must do to protect yourself and your loved ones if you are in a car accident.

These are Conway Law’s “Four C’s for Car Accidents”

Step 1: Call the Police: If you’re in an accident, always call the authorities. An insurance company will not believe that you have been in an accident unless there is a police report. Even if you think you are uninjured and the accident is minor, it’s still important to have the police file a report. Make the call immediately. Also, always contact your own insurance company to let them know you were in a wreck regardless of who is at-fault.

Step 2: Collect Information: When you are in a car accident, you need to take pictures with your phone of the accident scene and especially of the damage to the other driver’s vehicle. Pictures of the other vehicle, particularly in a rear-end collision, may show the extent of the impact better than pictures of your own vehicle. If the at-fault driver does not have full insurance coverage, the insurance company will not preserve pictures for you. For instance, if all you had was something like the photo below, an insurance company may argue that it was a minor collision.

However, if you had collected information, you would have a picture that tells the whole story:

Of course, anytime you are collecting information be safe—stay out of traffic, and only take photos where you know you are not in danger of being struck by another vehicle. In addition to pictures, you should collect the other driver’s (or drivers’) contact and insurance information.

Step 3: Care for Yourself: If you feel at all sore, stiff or in pain after an accident, tell the police officer and then seek medical care immediately. This is for two reasons: to determine if you are injured and need treatment, and to document your injury for the insurance company. An insurance company will not believe you are hurt unless a medical record verifies your injuries. Remember, adrenaline flows through your body after an accident, and the excitement and stress of the situation may cause you to not feel an injury until later that day, the next day or the next week. Get a doctor to check you (or a loved one) over.

Step 4: Contact Conway Law: Accidents are upsetting, and dealing with insurance companies is frustrating and difficult. It’s important that you speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. Conway Law can provide you with experienced counsel on what to do in case of an accident and go over your options for getting compensation. The consultation is free. Contact Conway.