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Whether you have experienced a slight “fender bender” with minimal damage and shaken nerves or a major automobile accident involving serious injury or worse, traffic accidents can be emotionally and physically overwhelming.

But even though it may not be easy, it is important to remain calm after an accident. Why? Because the actions you take, especially at the scene of the auto accident, can have a direct impact on the amount of compensation you are eligible for from insurance companies. This is particularly true if another party was at fault in the accident.

What to Do After a Motor Vehicle Accident

Following are the steps you should take, if possible, when a traffic accident happens to strengthen your case for personal injury compensation:

Immediately after the accident, assess your injuries and that of others involved. Call the police to the accident scene. Accept medical treatment at the scene if you feel there is even a remote possibility that you could have been injured. Some accident injuries do not fully surface until days or even weeks after a crash, but refusing medical care at the scene can hurt your chances of receiving all of the compensation you deserve. Exchange information with other drivers involved. You will need names, contact information, insurance information and if possible, driver’s license and license plate numbers. Take pictures of the accident scene. Cell phone cameras are great for this purpose. Talk with any witnesses and get their names and contact information. Stay at the accident scene until authorities on site say it is appropriate to leave. Use caution in discussing the accident with other parties. Do not offer an apology. That can be used against you as a declaration of guilt. Report the accident to your car insurance company, even if you do not believe you will make a claim against your own policy. Refrain from providing any written or recorded statement to insurance companies, either your own or that of another driver, until you have discussed your situation with an experienced auto accident attorney. Write down details of the accident as soon as you can after the incident. Note factors like potential accident causes, road conditions, weather, other traffic around, presence of traffic signs, etc. Keep track of your medical expenses and other costs related to the accident.

Also, as soon as possible after the accident (or even at the scene if it is a highly serious incident), contact a respected auto accident lawyer for advice.

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No one wants to be in an auto accident, but chances are that at some point in time you will be involved in an accident. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration in 2002 there were around 6.3 million police-reported traffic accidents, with 46 percent of them resulting in injury and 42,815 resulting in death. For the past four years, these numbers have held steady. Car accidents can also be one of the most disorienting, frightening and potentially painful experiences you can go through, so it is important to have a plan of what to do in the event that on occurs.

The aftermath of an auto accident leaves those involved in unfamiliar situations as they are forced to deal with their property loss and personal injuries sustained in the collision. Although we all see insurance companies advertisements proclaiming to have your best interests at heart, the reality is their slogans could not be further from the truth. Insurance companies are in the business of making money, period. Understanding this concept is essential to recovering the money that you are lawfully owed after you have been in an auto accident.

Although most personal injury lawyers do not handle their client’s property loss, it is important that people understand their rights following the collision. The at-fault driver’s insurance company is responsible for three things. First, they must either pay to have your vehicle repaired or, if the repairs exceed the value of the vehicle, they must pay you the fair market value of your car. Second, if the insurance company decides to repair your car, they must pay for the “loss of use” of your vehicle. Many insurance companies do this by setting up a rental car for your use while your vehicle is being repaired. Last, most insurance companies will not tell you this but if they decide to repair your vehicle, you are entitled to your vehicle’s “diminution in value”. Diminution in value represents the loss in market value of your vehicle due to the damage caused by the collision even though the vehicle has been properly repaired. This is a separate claim that must be made after the insurance company has paid to have your vehicle repaired. Once the diminution in value is determined, the insurance company must write you a check for that value.

One of the most important thing you can do after an auto accident is to get proper treatment for the injuries you sustained in the accident. You owe it to yourself, your family, and all of the people that depend on you to put your body back in the position it was in before the accident occurred. Seeking treatment immediately after the accident and following through with physical therapy or other doctor recommendations is crucial. Not only is it extremely important for your body, but also for your personal injury case. When insurance adjusters evaluate personal injury cases, the first thing they look at to determine a case’s value is when did the person first seek treatment and did they follow through with their treatments on a consistent basis. Once your doctor tells you that your treatment is complete, it is time to settle your personal injury claim.

An experienced Austin attorney from the McMinn Law Firm LLP, located in Austin, Texas, provide intelligent, resourceful and aggressive legal counsel on auto accident cases. From making sure their client’s get the proper treatment to maximizing a case’s value, we are committed to bringing justice to those who are injured in auto accidents. When the outcome of your legal situation can depend on the quality of your legal counsel, it is important that you retain an accident attorney who is fully committed to safeguarding your rights and representing you in a court of law.

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