Your normal commute may come to an abrupt halt when another vehicle collides with yours. In the seconds after this unshakable impact, your fight or flight mode may get activated. However, it is in your best interest to remain as calm as possible, as the next few steps you choose to take are critical not only to your potential insurance and civil claims but also to your overall well-being. Without further ado, please read on to discover what to do immediately after incurring an accident injury and how one of the seasoned Prince George’s County car accident lawyers at Miller Berman can help ensure your physical, emotional, and legal protections.
Should I move my vehicle after being involved in a car accident?
Immediately after getting involved in a car accident, you must take inventory of your surroundings and circumstances. Firstly, you must deduce whether your vehicle is still safe to manuever, whether you are physically able to steer and control the gas and brakes, and whether there is a safe location to pull over.
If the answers to the above scenarios are all “yes,” you should begin moving your vehicle away from traffic to avoid any further collisions. Try not to travel too far, though, and make sure other involved drivers can still spot you. The last thing you may want is to be accused of a hit-and-run, which may be charged as a criminal offense in the state of Maryland.
What should I do immediately after noticing my car accident injury?
Once you pull over, you should turn your vehicle’s hazard lights on. Again, assess your injuries and the outside environment to figure out whether it is safe to step out of your vehicle and check on other involved drivers and parties for injuries. If not, you can wait until law enforcement arrives at the scene of your accident.
On that note, Maryland law requires you to call 911 when a car accident results in property damage so severe that a tow truck is needed, bodily injury, or death. So here, you may give your statements to the responding officer so that they may include them in your official accident report. You should ask for a copy of this report, so that it may become useful evidence in your future injury claim.
Speaking of evidence, while you are still at the scene, you should take photos and videos of your property damage and visible bodily injuries. Most importantly, even if you do not seem hurt, you should let an officer dispatch an ambulance to transport you to the emergency room. For one, your serious injuries may be underlying. But also, medical evidence is critical for your case.
If you want to ensure you have a strong legal strategy with a reliable team in your corner, please look no further than Miller Berman. One of the competent Prince George’s County injury lawyers from our firm is ready to be of any service to you.
