Being in a car accident can be a serious disruption or a permanent, life-altering event. You may require major medical procedures that could impact you long after the wreckage has been cleared. While you are recovering, you may not be able to work, and if your injuries are bad enough, your once-promising career could come to an end. And of course, there is the emotional stress, pain, and suffering you are likely to endure.
When negligence is to blame for an accident, the victims have the right to seek monetary compensation from the at-fault parties. To make your strongest case, you should hire a car accident lawyer from Granite City, IL. Albers Injury Law is ready to serve you and your family.
What To Do After a Granite City Car Accident
The steps you take immediately after being in a car crash are important. First and foremost, a bad decision could jeopardize your health and make existing injuries worse. Your actions could also impact your legal case. We recommend doing the following:
Focus on safety first
Get yourself and any passengers to a safe location, near the accident but away from the vehicle and any traffic. Try to be in a place where you can be seen by other motorists and law enforcement. Examine yourself and your passengers to determine if anyone has any life-threatening injuries.
Call emergency responders
Next, call 911 and request emergency assistance. Any injuries, deaths, or property damage above $1,500 must be reported, but you should call first responders regardless to protect your health and legal rights. The police will generate an accident report, which will prove useful later.
Either take an ambulance to the emergency room or see a doctor at your earliest convenience. Many accident victims make the mistake of believing they weren’t injured or their injuries aren’t severe. However, many injuries don’t reveal themselves immediately and may worsen hours or days later. You could be harming yourself and giving the at-fault driver’s insurance company an excuse to deny your claim or pay less than it’s worth. You should always have a medical professional treat you.
Take pictures and video
To the extent you are able, take as many pictures and record as many videos as you can. Capture images and footage of the accident scene, vehicles, your injuries, and the environmental conditions (e.g. rain). Err on the side of more pictures and videos and take from various angles.
Talk to the other driver
Obtain the other driver’s information, such as their name, license plate number, automobile insurer, address, and phone number. Let law enforcement intervene if the other driver is hostile or refuses to give you any information. Take note of the make and model of the vehicle that hit you in case the driver decides to flee. Whatever you do, don’t apologize or admit fault; the less you say, the better for your claim.
Talk to witnesses
If there were any other witnesses at the scene, obtain their names and contact information. Many drivers have dash cameras in their vehicles that record accidents, so ask if anyone recorded the crash. Look around the accident scene and note the names of any businesses that may have surveillance cameras.
Make personal notes
You should make your own personal notes about the events leading up to and immediately after the accident. Doing this while the accident is fresh in your mind will help ensure that your details are helpful and accurate. Write down everything you can remember about the other driver’s actions and give a copy of your notes to your attorney. Your recollection of the accident can serve as testimony, which is a form of evidence.
Contact your insurance company
Call your insurance company and let them know you’ve been in an accident. Do not overshare information, even with your own insurance company. While your insurer should be on your side, the company will look for any excuse to deny or underpay your claim. Stick to the basic facts about the accident, don’t take blame, and don’t speculate. Refer any further communications from your insurance company or from the at-fault driver’s insurer to a car accident attorney in Granite City.
Common Car Accident Injuries
Some of the most likely car accident injuries include the following:
- Whiplash
- Neck injuries
- Herniated discs
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Bruises, scrapes, and cuts
- Broken bones
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
The onset of some of these injuries may be delayed, so see a doctor immediately. Be sure to follow all medical recommendations and treatment regimens. See any specialists you are referred to, attend follow-up appointments, and take your medications. If your problems worsen or you develop other symptoms, contact your healthcare provider.
Different Types of Car Accidents
A seasoned car accident lawyer in Granite City, IL understands how to represent victims in a wide variety of car accidents. Every wreck is different, and it is the victim’s responsibility to explain the circumstances and reasons behind the crash. Examples of these elements include:
Commercial truck accidents: These are caused by large trucks, such as tractor-trailers and semis. If the driver was working at the time of the accident, the employer (usually the trucking company) may be held liable.
Construction vehicle accidents: Although construction crews are required to do their jobs with caution, they don’t always observe safety regulations. We represent victims in accidents involving backhoes, excavators, dump trucks, and other vehicles.
Driving under the influence: It is illegal to drive while impaired, whether it’s due to drugs or alcohol. Even prescription medications must never be allowed to interfere with driving.
Hit-and-runs: Leaving the scene of an accident is a crime, but many at-fault drivers do just that. Even if the other driver isn’t located, you have options for securing the compensation you deserve.
Motorcycle accidents: Due to the smaller size and lack of protective frames of motorcycles, motorcycle accident victims tend to suffer more severe injuries.
Pedestrian and bicycle accidents: If you were struck by a car while walking or riding a bike, we can represent you. Like motorcyclists, pedestrians and bicyclists tend to have major injuries from their accidents.
Rear-end collisions: Being hit from behind may not seem as serious, but victims routinely suffer whiplash and other neck and head injuries. High speeds can make these injuries much worse.
SUV rollover accidents: Due to their higher centers of gravity and their taller, more narrow frames, sport utility vehicles are prone to rollovers. The automobile manufacturer may be to blame for these types of accidents.
Uninsured and underinsured motorists: We help those who have been injured by drivers without insurance or without enough insurance to cover the victim’s damages. You have possible options available, such as filing a claim through your insurer.
Wrongful death: Accidents that cost lives are tragic and leave families with tremendous grief and financial problems. We represent eligible survivors by demanding the justice and compensation they deserve.
Hire a Granite City Car Accident Attorney
Our firm understands the challenges you are facing in the wake of a car accident. Albers Injury Law, LLC has represented countless victims by seeking the maximum amount of damages available under the law. Call us today to get started.
Car Accident FAQs
Do I have to talk to the other driver’s insurance company?
No, and you shouldn’t. Insurance companies use a number of tactics to obtain information from victims that can later be distorted and used against them. Don’t trust the insurer to have your best interests at heart; refer them to your attorney.
Is there a time limit to file a claim?
Accident victims generally have only two years from the date of the wreck to file a lawsuit. But you should take action much sooner than that. Waiting too long increases the risk that evidence will be lost and witnesses will be harder to find.
Will my car accident case go to court?
Most car accident cases settle out of court in mediation, a process in which a third-party mediator helps facilitate discussions between the parties. Our car accident lawyer serves Granite City, IL victims by representing them during mediation. If a fair settlement isn’t possible, however, we can take the case to trial.