Auto Accident Dos and Don’ts from a Phoenix Accident Attorney
- DON’T rush to get out of your car. Take a second to familiarize yourself with your surroundings and gauge how you are feeling. Check for safety hazards.
- DO always call the police and make sure that they write a report of the accident
- DO call your insurance company right away to report the accident but don’t give them a recorded statement while you are at the scene
- DO take pictures of the accident scene and focus on any skids, scuffs, or road conditions that may have contributed to the accident as these details can be very important to your case. Police officers often do not take these pictures.
- DON’T volunteer information to anyone at the scene other than the police officers
- DO approach potential witnesses and take down their contact information as they may be very helpful in the future
- DO get information from the driver who hit you including their license plate number and insurance information
- DO take an ambulance to the hospital if you think there is any chance you might need it. A good rule of thumb to keep in mind is that if your car is damaged enough to be towed away you are probably damaged enough to take the ambulance
- DO always go to the emergency room (or at least an urgent care) immediately; you need to make sure that any injuries have been documented. Don’t skip this step even if you still feel ok immediately after the accident
- While at the emergency room, DO always make sure to draw attention to any areas that were injured so that they may be examined and documented
- DO always follow up right away with your family doctor as recommended by the ER. You want to keep your family doctor in the loop so they can suggest treatment options.
- DO always call a Phoenix accident attorney soon after the accident to discuss your case and how to proceed moving forward
- DON’T speak with the insurance company for the other driver until you have discussed this with your Phoenix accident attorney