At Gibbons Law Firm, we hope you never have to experience being in a car accident. Even a small car accident can be rattling when you are the one in it, and big ones can be devastating. It only takes a fraction of a second, one wrong judgment, or a quick distraction for an accident to happen. Here in the Ozarks, with winding roads and blind curves and no shoulders on many of the roads, conditions can be unforgiving.
If you ever find yourself in a car accident at the Lake of the Ozarks, we just want you to have an idea of what to do. We know it is hard to focus at the time of an accident so we thought we would share some things in this week’s blog to help you prepare proactively. If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident, you should contact a personal injury attorney at the Lake of the Ozarks. Feel free to call our Lake Ozark law office today at (573) 348-2211 for a free consultation.
1) Safety First
The first thing you want to do is make
sure everyone is ok right after the accident, see if anyone needs help, and make
sure all are safe. That includes assessing
the potential for causing another accident.
The sooner you can move the vehicle out of the road the better. If you can drive it to the side of the road
then do so. If not, then call a tow
truck right away. While waiting for the
tow truck, do not stay inside your vehicle if it is in the middle of a busy roadway. Get out of your car and
stand on the side of the road as far from traffic as possible in case there is
another collision and be mindful of traffic.
2) Call 911
Of course, you will need to
contact the police so they can come to the scene to evaluate and conduct an
accident report. It is also important to
make sure anyone who is injured receives medical attention immediately. If someone is hurt, calling the ambulance
will get them the help they need as well as document their injuries.
3) Document
As soon as possible, you should
start noting everything you can remember about the accident. Take pictures of the scene, write down what
happened or what you saw. Notice any outside
conditions that may have been factors such as weather, road hazards, other
traffic, etc. Gather as much information as you can as soon as you can. You
should also request a copy of the police report for your records. It will likely take a few days for it to be
completed, and it will be important to have for your insurance claim.
4) Insurance
Another step to take after a car
accident is to call your insurance company.
Letting them know you have been in an accident will get the claims
process started. The insurance company
will be able to direct you on what to do next.
5) Representation
You do not need to feel alone. You may have a million questions about what you are going to do … how you will recover physically, financially, emotionally. At this time, the most important thing for you to focus on is your healing and not the potential court battle that may be looming. Our law office at the Lake of the Ozarks is well equipped to fight the cause for you and get you the compensation you need to cover your injuries and more. Your first consultation is free. If you have been involved in a car accident and have questions, call us today to get answers. Gibbons Law Firm successfully represented many clients and is here to help you too. For more tips and insight on legal issues at the Lake of the Ozarks, feel free to follow us on our social media channels listed below!
Remember, your initial consultation with Gibbons Law Firm is always free.
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