Personal Injury Lawyer Phoenix, AZ
If you’ve been involved in a car accident, you know that a lot of things are happening at once. In the aftermath, adrenaline can cloud one’s rational thinking. As you are scanning yourself and others for injuries, you might wonder, should I move my car?
The short answer: it depends. Whether are not you should move your vehicle right after an accident will be dependent on a lot of factors. Read on below to find out when you should (and shouldn’t) move your car if you’ve just been in an accident.
Before Making a Decision
Before you decide whether or not to move your car, make sure that:
- You stay at the scene of the accident, even if that means removing the vehicles from the exact location where the accident occurred. Do not hit and run.
- The police have been called
- Anyone who is injured is receiving medical attention
When to Move Your Car
It is appropriate to move your car if you’ve been involved in a minor accident, especially if your car is blocking the flow of traffic. Stopped cars that stay on the main roadway are in danger of causing other accidents to occur. Stopped cars interrupt the flow of traffic and encourage rubbernecking drivers. If no one is hurt and the cars involved are drivable, then the cars should be moved off the main roadway. If the accident occurred on the freeway, it’s not safe enough to just pull over to the shoulder, try to get off the freeway on the next exit, and find a parking lot where you and the other driver(s) can exchange information.
When NOT to Move Your Car
The most obvious reason not to move your car is that you can’t. If your car is damaged to the extent that it is not safely drivable, then do not try to do so. The same goes for injured parties. If there are people inside of the cars who are severely injured, moving the car they are located in could cause further injuries. Best to call the proper authorities to handle both the wrecked car and the injured person.
If there is any disagreement as to who is at fault, do not move the vehicles. Call the police and have them investigate the accident. They will make a police report and state the at-fault party.
Most major accidents will require that the cars involved not be moved.
CONTACT AN ATTORNEY
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you may have a personal injury case. If you’re in need of a personal injury lawyer Phoenix, AZ counts on, contact Kamper & Estrada, PLLC today for a free initial consultation.
