If you or your loved one suffered an injury in a car accident, it is important to contact an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as possible. We recommend speaking to a car accident lawyer before you speak to your insurance company. At Jones Kahan Law, LLC, we have experienced Cincinnati car accident lawyers who will fight for your rights throughout the entire process. Contact us today to schedule your free initial consultation.
We also recommend printing out a sheet of steps to take after an Ohio car accident and placing it in your dashboard. Immediately after a car accident, many people feel disoriented and overwhelmed. Remembering what steps to take can become difficult in the wake of a serious Cincinnati car accident. Taking the time to review these steps can help you preserve an insurance or personal injury claim.
After a car accident happens, it is normal for people to feel upset and anxious. When we are overwhelmed, it’s easy to forget to seek out important information that can help in the long run. Cincinnati car accidents are traumatic, especially when you sustain serious injuries as a result. As much as possible, try to keep a cool head after a car accident. Remember that help is on the way. We recommend pulling out this list of steps to take after a car accident to help guide you through the process.
Check yourself and your passengers over to see if anyone has been injured. Even if you only suspect that yourself or one of your passengers has been injured, it’s still wise to call 911 and request an ambulance at the scene of the car accident. If you are severely injured, remain in your seat until the paramedics arrive. You do not want to risk a spinal cord injury by moving too suddenly.
Calling the Cincinnati police department is always wise after a car accident, even if nobody is seriously injured. The police officer who responds to the scene will be able to make a police report that states the facts of the accident. Be polite with law enforcement and cooperate with them. Do not admit fault, even if you think you might have caused the accident. As a result of the heightened adrenaline involved after an accident, you might be inclined to admit to doing something that you didn’t do.
If you suspect that the other driver was driving while distracted or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, tell the police officer. Make sure that you stay at the scene of the accident until law enforcement gives you permission to leave. Write down the name of the police officer who responded to your accident and the number of the police report, if possible.
If you are able to do so, seek out information from everyone involved in the accident, including passengers, pedestrians, witnesses, and any other drivers who were involved. Most people who were involved will cooperate while a police officer is at the scene of the car accident. After you leave the scene of the car accident, it will be more difficult to get any important information from people who were involved.
Try to gather all of the following information:
Nearly everybody has a cell phone in Cincinnati. After a car accident, use your cell phone to take pictures of the accident. These photos might become important pieces of evidence when you are filing your insurance claim or in your personal injury claim. Try to take photos that show the location of the accident and the position of the vehicles. Take photos of the damage to your vehicle and the other vehicle. It’s also wise to take photos of your injuries as well as the injuries of your passengers.
Look around the accident scene to find people who might have witnessed the car accident. Ask the witnesses questions without discussing the accident yourself. Be sure that you don’t admit fault to the witnesses. Sometimes witnesses hear an admission of guilt from the other driver, or they witnessed the other driver cause the accident. Write down what they tell you as well as their name, address, and phone number.
This step is critical. Insurance companies sometimes begin calling accident participants within hours of the accident. Admitting fault can be easy when speaking to an insurance adjuster, but it is important to wait to speak to the insurance company before consulting with a Cincinnati car accident lawyer. Additionally, do not sign any agreements. You could end up unintentionally waiving your right to pursue a personal injury claim.
You can sign the police report, however.
At Jones Kahan Law, LLC, we can help you craft a statement that fairly describes what happened without admitting fault. We can also review any potential settlement agreements before you sign them to make sure that the agreement represents your best interests.
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