It’s not something anyone plans for, but the odds are that in your lifetime you or someone you know will be involved in a car accident. It’s a very uncomfortable experience to say the least. It can be difficult to stay focused and know what to do at the scene of the accident. This is especially true if it is a very serious accident. But a serious accident means there are likely to be some long-term effects and knowing what to do at the time can make a big difference on potential personal injury claims. The number one thing is to make sure everyone is OK and safe, and to prevent one accident from causing another. But knowing what else to do at the time when you’ve just been through a traumatic event can be very difficult. So, in this blog we wanted to help you think about it ahead of time so that if you or anyone else you know finds themselves in a serious car accident at Lake of the Ozarks, you can feel a little more prepared to handle the situation.
Safety First
The first thing to do when you’ve been in an accident is to observe your surroundings. Look to see if there are any immediate dangers or hazards, and if possible, drivers of both vehicles should get their car off the roadway as quickly as they can. If one or both vehicles cannot be moved, it is usually best if everyone exits their vehicles and stands at the side of the road away from traffic. It’s important to keep an eye on traffic and be aware the whole time because it’s a very vulnerable place to be. Call a tow truck immediately, and if the accident happened on a blind curve or hill and it is possible to set markers or road flares so that upcoming drivers will know to slow down it is good to do so.
Emergency Responders
It is important to have a police report made at the time of the accident. You will need that for documentation right away for your insurance company. You will also want to get a copy of the accident report for your own records as well. It’s also important to make sure everyone is OK medically. Being evaluated by a medical professional will help document any injuries, and make sure everyone gets the treatment they need right away. It’s actually possible to have broken bones and other trauma and not realize it at the time of the accident because you are in a state of shock or the effects of not really set in yet. That is why medical evaluation is such an important thing to do when you’ve been in a serious car accident.
Documentation
Just in case you have to prove your case in the future, you want to document everything as quickly as possible. You’ll remember less as time goes on, and you never know what detail may be significant later on. If you can take pictures of the scene and the damage caused, that is very important. It’s also good to take notes and write down anything that you remember about what led up to the accident, and any other factors that may have contributed. Even if you think it is unrelated or insignificant, the more details you can write down the better it is to have just in case.
Call Your Insurance Agent
You will want to let your insurance agent know as soon as possible that you had an accident. They will be able to walk you through filing a claim and can help you through the process.
Call for a Free Consultation at Gibbons Law Firm
Last but certainly not least, you need to know where you stand legally, what your rights are, and what your options are. Our personal injury attorneys in Lake Ozark have helped countless clients win the settlements they need to help compensate for the effects of being injured due to someone else’s negligence in mid-Missouri. We know how important it is to have experienced representation, and we don’t want finances to be a barrier to anyone in that position. So, we generally represent personal injury cases on a contingency basis, which means you don’t have to have money in order to have someone there to represent you and fight for your rights. If you or anyone you love has been in a serious car accident and needs guidance and legal information about what to do, Gibbons Law Firm is here for you. Just call us at the number below and schedule your free initial consultation. We share helpful legal information on a regular basis, so if you’d like to hear more, be sure to follow us on social media. The links to our channels are below.
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