What To Do After a Car Accident?

The following are things that are important to know and do following a car accident:

• Call 911.  This is imperative.  Even if it appears that no one was injured, assistance may be needed for clearing the scene, managing traffic, and creating the accident report.
• Seek immediate medical assistance.  It is important to determine what injuries you have sustained.  Serious injuries can occur internally that you may not be aware of right away.
• Collect information from all parties.  Collect information from the scene of the accident including time and location, road and weather conditions, contact and insurance information and policy numbers of the people involved (including passengers and witnesses), vehicle license plate numbers, and driver’s license numbers.
• If contacted by the insurance company for the other involved motor vehicles, do not discuss the facts of the collision with them.  Instead, first consult an attorney to protect your rights.
• File a report with the state. 
• Do not permit anyone other than the police to question you about the events of the accident, particularly the other party’s attorney or insurance company or representative of your own insurance company.  If your insurance policy requires that you report your accident within a certain time period, as many do, this is another reason to call an attorney immediately.
• Do not accept any settlement offers before you speak with an attorney.  Many large insurance companies offer quick settlement payments to people involved in automobile accidents.  These insurance companies do not have your best interests in mind.  Accepting a quick settlement payment may jeopardize future claims.
• Contact experienced Minnesota car accident lawyers immediately following a car crash at 651-437-3148 or toll-free at 1-866-389-2540.