Even the most careful Kentucky drivers are likely going to have a car accident at least once in their lifetimes, and the average resident of this state will probably even have to deal with the fallout of a car accident more than once.
While thankfully most car accidents are “minor” in the sense that no one involved gets physically hurt, there are still are some important things a person should do, or avoid doing, following any car crash.
One important thing a person needs to do is either call for medical support or get to a doctor right away after an accident, even if he or she does not feel injured at the time. This is because the stress of the accident can cause the body to respond in such a way that a person can function, for a little while, with a serious but non-critical injury.
Likewise, a person needs to call the police and get an accident report filed, even if the other driver wants to just resolve the matter immediately and offers money. Even if the police are involved, he or she should nonetheless take photos of the scene and should also take careful notes of the accident, including the contact and insurance information of the other driver, as well as contact information for any witnesses. Additionally, the person should call his or her own insurance company and at least start making a list of questions for his or her personal injury lawyer.
There are also a few things to avoid doing after an accident. For one, the standard advice to not apologize or admit fault still applies; on the flip side, though, one should certainly not leave the scene of the accident until the police give everyone the okay to do so.
A person should not speak publicly about the case and should not talk to the other driver’s insurance carrier until they have had a chance to go over the matter with their own attorney or insurance company. Finally, they should not sign anything, especially a waiver or settlement, without reviewing it with an attorney.
