What to Know after a Car and Motor Vehicle Accident
Oh no! You were involved in an accident—Attorney Raymond W. Ganim – Personal Injury Law is here to help!
Hey Ray! Atty Raymond Ganim – (203) 377-7700
The above photograph is a great example of why it is so important to preserve evidence from the time a car accident occurs. This accident occurred at a traffic control signal with two cross streets and three cars. The police made a vague sketch of the placement of the vehicles, but the picture tells a different story. The photograph clearly demonstrates the black car crossed into the pick-up truck’s lane of travel causing the accident. Now look to the side. There is yet another vehicle involved in the crash. Attorney Raymond W. Ganim – Personal Injury Law secured photographs of all the vehicles involved, the point of impact, and obtained a list of witnesses.
Unfortunately, car accidents like this happen more than you may think. It’s important to be prepared so you know what to do if this happens to you!
Have You Been in a Car Accident? Follow These Steps…
The first steps to take after a car wreck are simple and straight-forward.
- Notify the authorities (Call 911) and seek medical attention for those injured or possibly injured.
- Take pictures and or videos of the accident scene from multiple angles to show the location of the vehicles, weather conditions, injuries, and witnesses.
- Secure witness information, name, address, phone number
- Seek Legal counsel.
Seeking Medical Attention is a Must!
If you are injured or unsure if you are injured in the accident, you should seek medical attention immediately so you can be evaluated and treated if necessary. No one gets compensated for suffering in silence. Be mindful that when you describe how you were injured with your chosen health care provider, be careful to be as accurate as possible as healthcare providers routinely make note in their records of how you indicated that you were injured.
It’s important to follow your doctor’s treatment recommendations and proceed through the medical treatment process to determine the source, course of treatment and overall severity of your injuries.
What to Know About Police and Car Accident Injury Witnesses
Don’t assume all witnesses to your accident will be identified in the police report. Witnesses to accidents may check to see if there are injuries and whether the police need to be called, but often do not wait until the police arrive or may leave upon the arrival of police or other emergency response personnel. Generally, unless there is a fatality, the police are not focused on gathering as much evidence as possible to be supportive of a personal injury claim against the ‘at fault’ party. It is important for you to obtain the names and contact information of all witnesses you or your passengers become aware of. Witnesses, photographs and video recordings have a lasting impact on a jury in deciding your case. Other factors, such as the weather conditions and the severity of impact, will also assist you in telling a judge or jury what happened and how you got hurt.
Be Careful of Insurance Companies and Claims
Insurance companies know that photographs and videos are significant evidence for the injured party. (It is not uncommon for cars to be equipped with cameras or for homes and businesses to have surveillance cameras which may record the collision area.) Do not rely on your insurance company or the at fault party’s insurance company to obtain this information and provide it to you. The at fault party’s insurance company is not going to help you with your claim and it is important that you obtain this vital evidence for your case.
You should also be aware that insurance carriers act fast to obtain statements. Before you provide a statement to anyone other than the police, you should contact a personal injury car accident lawyer.
Keep in mind that a quick settlement is not always the best settlement. It is often recommended that enough time pass after the accident for your medical treatment to be properly diagnosed, treated, and evaluated for the purpose of determining whether you have fully recovered from the injuries sustained in the accident. A settlement prior to this may result in your not being fully compensated for the injury you sustained.
Raymond W. Ganim – Personal Injury Law Firm – a Top Auto Accident Attorney in Stratford CT
If you’ve been in a car accident, it’s time to take action. As experienced personal injury and car crash litigators, the Atty. Raymond Ganim and his team will act on your behalf to gather and preserve evidence and put responsible parties on notice to preserve evidence vital to your case.
We handle all communications, claim submissions, negotiations, and legal proceedings on your behalf to protect your rights and your best interest for you to be fully compensated for all your injuries, both physical and financial.
Retaining proper personal injury representation is an absolute necessity in this day and age. Don’t wait or delay!
After an accident, Just Say Hey Ray!
Contact Attorney Raymond W. Ganim – Personal Injury Law – (203) 377-7700
