In an Auto Accident in NC? Here’s What to Do.
No one (at least none of my clients!) plans on being in an auto accident. They’re always a surprise. So if you don’t already have a plan for what to do in case of that eventuality, you might not know what to do. Here are some tips!
- Call the police. Call 911! Not having proper investigation and documentation of your accident can really come back to bite you, not to mention having someone there to keep you safe. Call the cops asap.
- Don’t Panic. I stole this from the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, but it’s always good advice. If you’re able, get out of traffic and find a safer place than the road to wait for help to arrive. Hazard lights are probably a good idea. Make sure everyone around is OK and offer help as appropriate.
- Never admit fault. Southerners are often bad about accepting blame when it’s not due. It’s just polite, right? Yes, but it can hurt you badly, so don’t do it here! It’s best not to discuss the car accident with anyone other than the police and your attorney. You don’t have to be rude, but you can say that you’re not worried about fault right now, just everyone’s safety.
- Gather information and witnesses. Try to get driver’s license information, auto insurance info, license plate numbers, as well as the names and contact information of the driver and potential witnesses.
- Take photos. Almost everyone has a phone in their pocket right now, so take photos of the crash scene, the people and vehicles involved, and the license plate(s) of all cars involved. If there are any particular aspects of the scene that are important for the narrative, snap shots of those, too.
- Seek medical treatment if there’s ANY belief it’s possibly needed. I don’t mean scream and wail your way into an ambulance. But I do mean that you should take your health seriously. A lot of times after an accident your adrenaline is hiding your injuries, so pay close attention to your body and seek the right care as soon as possible.
I certainly hope you don’t need this info, but it’s better to have it if you end up needing it.
If you’re in an accident in NC, call me at 919-929-2992.
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