There is no one-size fits all approach to dealing with the aftermath of a car crash. There are times when no one is injured and you can work with your own insurance company to get your car fixed. Other times, unfortunately, you may be catastrophically or fatally injured. Regardless of the severity of your collision, we can help.
After you have been in a car accident, it is likely that the insurance companies will be trying to contact you and take a statement. While you should report the claim, you should not otherwise give a statement to an insurance company until you understand all of your rights. An insurance company is out for itself, not for you.
If you are involved in a car crash, you should:
- Stop, move your car off of the road if it is safe to do so, and call 911.
- Check to see if you are injured, as well as the others involved. If anyone is potentially injured, call 911 and ask for an ambulance. The most important thing is to make sure you get treatment if you are injured.
- Exchange information with the others involved, but DO NOT admit that you were at fault, even if you think you may have contributed to the happening of the crash. It is human nature to want to apologize, but you should not say that you are sorry as that can be deemed an admission of fault.
- If safe to do so and you are able, take photographs of the vehicles at the scene, including their position. If you see debris on the road, tire marks, gouge marks, try to take photographs/video of those as well.
- If there are witnesses to the crash, talk to them. Find out what they saw and get their name, address, and phone number if they will provide it to you. There are times that people won't want to be involved, but try.
- Make sure you do not hesitate to get medical treatment if you are injured in any way. It is always better to be checked out and be fine then to not seek treatment and end up having an injury you did not know about that gets worse.
- If you do speak to an insurance adjuster, be very careful. They want to limit the amount the insurance company will have to pay. Do not give a recorded statement or sign any documents before speaking with an attorney.
- Contact Us. Let us deal with the insurance companies on your behalf so that you can focus on what matters: getting better and letting your injuries heal.
The law is very complicated in Pennsylvania when it comes to automobile accidents. Don't try to navigate it yourself. First-party benefits, limited tort, underinsured motorist coverage, comparative negligence, no-fault are all terms that can impact what happens to you after you have been in a motor vehicle collision, and they all have very in-depth explanations. Let us help you so that your rights are protected.
A motor vehicle accident can permanently change your life. Don't try to deal with that change alone. Let us guide you through the next steps. We offer free consultations and do not charge a fee unless there is a recovery on your behalf.