What To Do After a Wreck

Attending to the Scene after a Wreck

Depending upon where you are, there will be different laws regarding how you handle the scene after a wreck. For instance, many states will ask that you pull to the next exit if you're in a freeway wreck, no one is injured and the cars are still drivable. The shoulder of a freeway is a very dangerous place to be, so you want to be sure that you're clear of it as soon as possible. Other states will want you to remain at the site of the accident. Always call in right after a wreck to make sure that you're doing the right thing.

Reporting a Wreck

When you call in, make sure to ask whether or not you have to wait for a police officer. Some states will require that you file a report about the accident and that you wait until an officer comes to the scene. In other states, this will depend upon the amount of money involved in the wreck. Again, the only way to find out is to call the police and to ask them what you're supposed to do.

Whether or not it's required, it's best to report an accident as soon as possible. This means that there is some sort of documentation that the wreck occurred and it may help your case in the future, if you decide to call a motor vehicle accident lawyer and sue for damages.

Insurance

Whether or not you call your insurance company right away is up to you, but there are situations where you may want to put it off until you contact an attorney. If it's obvious that the driver that hit you was negligent in some way, you may want to contact an attorney first. Some examples include:

• The driver was on a cell phone
• The driver was drunk
• The driver was not paying attention to the road
• The driver ran a stop sign

These are all cases where you may want to have a car accident lawyer prepare a lawsuit for you and it may be advisable to talk to them first about how to deal with your insurance company. Your lawyer will be able to tell you what to say and what not to say to increase the chances that the insurance company will pay your claim. If you work with an attorney, it's always best to go through them for everything.