What to do after a car collision is easy if it wasn’t your fault. If you have been injured in a Mississippi car accident and have suffered an injury owing to another driver’s carelessness, there is no time to guess second what you should be doing.
Your actions could have profound legal implications later on down the road, so it’s important to know what steps you should take right away.
The best way to reduce the stress level is to get all the proper legal advice. Rollins Law Firm, a personal injury law office in Mississippi, can help you if you have been a victim of a vehicular accident.
The advice and information you read here can substantially reduce your pain and suffering.
Causes of Automobile Accidents
The following factors often cause car accidents:
Driving While Distracted
Drivers whose attention on the road is reduced by distractions are more likely to be involved in accidents. Distractions while driving may include the following: eating/drinking, conversing, combing hair or applying cosmetics, reading books/maps, using GPS systems, watching movies, and tuning radios.
Texting-While-Driving
Drivers who are texting are diverting their attention away from the road with both their hands and eyes. You are far more likely to be in a crash if you are texting while driving than if you are not distracted.
Driving While Drowsy
Drivers who lack sleep are more prone to be involved in accidents. Rest is necessary for the body to stay attentive and have a quick enough response time to avoid an injury. Accidents caused by drowsy driving are both prevalent and hazardous.
Drugged Driving
Drivers under the influence of any substance that affects one’s motor abilities, response time, or judgment are more likely to cause accidents. Drugged driving endangers motorists’ safety and is deemed negligent.
Driving while Intoxicated
Drunk driving, like drugged driving, is a frequent cause of automobile accidents. When a person’s intellect is harmed, their ability to drive is also broken. Drunk driving accidents have a devastating effect on the victims and their families.
Speeding
Speeding contributes to accidents because drivers who go way beyond the speed limit often lack the time necessary to halt or prevent a collision. Speed restrictions are in place to protect drivers and lower the chance of accidents. Drivers who exceed the posted speed limit are acting irresponsibly.
Reckless Driving
Speeding, running red lights, failing to yield, weaving, tailgating, racing, and other reckless driving behavior, are all examples of reckless driving. Reckless driving endangers other drivers and is a frequent cause of automobile accidents.
Types of Automobile Accidents
Listed here are some of the most automobile accidents:
Collisions at Right Angles
In most head-on accidents, negligence is a factor. These crashes are among the most lethal.
Accidents During Highway Construction
Construction businesses must prevent accidents. Other motorists should use more caution in highway construction zones.
Accidents at Intersections
Typically, accidents at junctions occur due to a driver making a driving mistake that might be ascribed to carelessness.
Interstate Collisions
Due to the high speeds at which automobiles move on the interstate, accidents may be more devastating.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end crashes are one of the most basic forms of collisions, and they commonly result in whiplash.
Side-Impact Crashes
Side-impact collisions are also prevalent, occurring most often at crossings. They may result in further injuries depending on the location of the crash.
6 Things to do after a car accident
1. Check Everyone’s Safety- Check for accident injuries
The priority after an automobile accident is to safeguard everyone’s safety. Steps to take:
- If you can, get out and put on your hazard blinkers.
- When the accident is serious, or someone is injured, contact 911 to get an ambulance and police on site. Even if the collision or damages was minor, you should contact the cops.
- Call the police hotline.
- Set up lights around the location to inform other cars. If not, flash your danger lights.
- Stay at the site until the cops release you.
2. Exchange information with the other drivers
After checking for injuries, exchange contact and insurance information with the other motorist. Ask for any information relevant to your claim, such as:
- Name and contact- information (phone number)
- Company name and insurance policy number
- License-plate number
- Vehicle color and model
- Accident site/ scene of the accident
Avoid discussing with the other motorist who is the driver at fault. An adjuster examining your insurance claim will establish who is to blame based on assessing the damaged vehicles/property, the information supplied by you, and any parties involved in the accident as well as the police report and any pictures from the site.
3. Report the accident to the police, even if it may seem like a minor car accident
If you are in an accident, you should report to the police, no matter how minor. This is true if you are in an accident with a driver who is not insured, has an invalid license, or does not have car insurance.
While it is illegal for a driver to be uninsured in Mississippi, many drivers remain uninsured either because they think it is legal or because they cannot afford the insurance.
4. Collect evidence such as witnesses and take photos
If you get in a motor vehicle accident, make sure to keep your wits about you and collect as much evidence as you can. You will want to take pictures of the accident scene and the surrounding area.
If possible, also take pictures of any vehicle wreck and any injuries that anybody involved in the collision may have received.
The last thing you want is to flee away from an auto accident without getting it reported or documented in some way. That’s because when it comes to auto accidents, people tend to be their own worst enemies.
5. Report the accident to your insurance company
Many drivers involved in a car wreck fail to report the incident to their insurance company. State laws vary, and some states don’t require that you notify your insurance company, but it is illegal not to report the accident in most states.
In general, it would be wise to notify your insurer if you are involved in any car accident or vehicle damage. Even if there are no injuries, the other driver may seek compensation from you for their vehicle.
In such cases, you must inform your insurer of the accident right away to prevent insurance claims from being filed against you.
6. Find a car accident lawyer.
Don’t handle it yourself or sign any papers until you have talked to one. You will not regret this. Even if the automobile accident was the fault of someone else, things don’t always go smoothly.
If you were affected in a vehicle accident, you need to consult an accident lawyer. Unlike the insurance company, your accident attorney will work to maximize your reimbursement for your injuries. A skilled car accident attorney can guide you through the whole procedure.
A personal injury law firm can help you settle your personal injury cases, car accident claims, injury claims, have your automobile fixed, receive money or coverage for a rental car, get you medical attention, maximize your monetary compensation for your injuries (via car accident lawsuit or insurance company discussions), and negotiate and reduce medical expenses.
Continue reading to learn about damages in personal injury cases.
4 Errors to Avoid If Injured in a Car Accident
1. Ignore urgent medical attention.
Seek medical assistance immediately after your injury – even if you feel you are unhurt. The adrenaline from the crash may conceal serious injuries, so seek emergency medical attention. If you have been hurt, it is vital to diagnose your condition before attempting to collect the compensation you deserve.
If your physician recommends medication, ensure that it is filled quickly. Additionally, heed your physician’s advice and keep all follow-up visits and treatment sessions on time. Failure to adhere to your doctor’s recommendations may indicate to the insurance company that you are not as wounded as you claim.
Several of the most frequent injuries sustained in an automobile collision include the following:
- brain damage caused by trauma
- spinal cord injury
- back injury
- whiplash
- burns
- damage to internal organ/s
- anxiety and depression
When you see your physician, inform them of any pre-existing injuries or ailments. Your physician will be able to determine precisely how the event impacted your pre-existing injury.
Without medical advice and diagnosis from your doctor, the insurance company may claim that your injury was pre-existing and not worsened or made worse by the event.
2. Call the insurance company unprepared.
The at-fault party’s insurer may try to record the conversation with you. They may also use your words to decrease or reject your claim. Requesting a recorded statement without consulting an attorney is a bad idea.
3. Ignore follow-up treatment.
Insurance companies pay close attention to the sort of post-accident medical care you get. You may have serious health issues if your medical treatment is inconsistent, poor, or with the incorrect physicians, or if they can’t credibly link your injuries to the event.
4. Let the insurance company handle it.
We see it often. Awaiting the insurance company’s response is popular—clients who rely on insurance to do right by them. Insurance firms profit from restricting payments. Their interests do not match yours!
By delaying, many individuals end up harming their claims irreparably — by failing to preserve evidence, saying anything to an adjuster that is later used against them or making any of the other blunders listed. Meanwhile, the insurance company will be seeking to reduce their losses and pay less.
Many of these blunders may be avoided with the aid of an accident attorney. We see it all the time. No insurance company will battle for your best interests like an expert automobile accident injury lawyer.
Takeaway: Don’t delay contacting a Mississippi Personal Injury Lawyer to make sure you get all your legal rights!
Hopefully, we gave you a basic idea of what to do after or even before a car accident has happened to you. Being armed with information beforehand can prepare you if this situation arises and help manage the chaos that may follow.
If you sustained injuries in an automobile crash, it’s not a bad idea to seek a lawyer about your situation. After all, you need to know if you have injury cases—and a lawyer can help you figure that out. So, engage with one of our Mississippi personal injury lawyers and find out what happens from there. Schedule a free consultation today!
Just remember: the sooner you speak with a lawyer after your accident, the better off you’re likely to be.
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