After An Auto Accident

By Malik Shakur, Attorney

Law Office of Malik A. Shakur

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After An Auto Accident

There are over six million car accidents in the U.S. each year producing over three million injuries and over 40,000 fatalities. No one wakes in the morning expecting to be in an accident, but if you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, follow the steps below to ensure that you get the proper medical care and compensation for your injuries.
Step 1 Remain calm and seek a safe location.
Although you may be in state of shock, you need to gather your thoughts and get out of harms way. Get out of the car if you are able and walk to a safe location.
Step 2 Seek medical attention even if you do not feel injured.
Seek medical attention even if you feel fine. Some injuries may not be felt until hours after an accident. You want to have these injuries noted and addressed by emergency room personnel.
Step 3 Do not apologize for the accident.
In todays litigious world, any apology may be considered a sign of guilt. You may have concern for the other parties involved. It is fine to ask how they are, but avoid an apology that may be used against you later.
Step 4 Contact the police so that there is official accident report.
Many people forgo contacting the police in small accidents. If there is no official record of the accident it is your word against the other party. Even if you trust the person at the time of the accident, stories change when determining who was at fault comes into play.
Step 5 Get contact information for any witnesses to the accident.