Five Things to Do Right After Your Car Accident in Illinois
After a car accident in Illinois, what are the first steps you should take? If you are injured, you should always prioritize getting medical care. In addition, you must report any accident with injuries or significant property damage. The first step is to call 911. After that, you should exchange info with the other driver, gather evidence, seek medical care as soon as first responders arrive, and immediately contact a motor vehicle accident lawyer.
1: Call 911 Immediately
The first step after a car accident in Illinois is to call 911. This will summon first responders to the scene, including police and EMTs. In Illinois, you must notify the police of any accident in which:
- Anyone is injured or killed.
- There is property damage over $1500.
- The crash involves a school bus and causes injury, death, or property damage.
Although you are not allowed to leave the scene of an accident, you should pull your vehicle over to the side of the road to get it out of traffic if possible.
When the police arrive, you can tell the responding officer what happened. They will enter this information in their report about the crash. Your lawyer will examine the police report later while investigating the accident.
2: Exchange Information with the Other Driver
After calling 911, you should check on the other car and see whether anyone needs immediate assistance. Then you should exchange your information with the other driver, including:
- Name, phone number, and home address.
- Insurance company name, phone number, and policy number.
- Vehicle make, model, identification number, and license plate number.
- Driver’s license number.
3: Gather Evidence
While waiting for an ambulance, it’s always a good idea to gather as much evidence as possible. Take photos of your injuries, road conditions, traffic lights, road signs, and damage to your vehicle. Use your phone to take videos. If there are any eyewitnesses, ask them for their names and contact information.
You may be unable to gather evidence, especially if you are severely injured. However, if you can do so, it will help your attorney determine what happened and who was at fault in the accident. This can help you later with your personal injury case.
4: Seek Medical Care
All too often, people who have been in a car accident decide they weren’t badly injured and don’t seek medical care immediately after the crash. Not long afterward, they start to suffer the symptoms of whiplash or other injuries that don’t always manifest right away. Unfortunately, their failure to seek medical care immediately allows the insurance company to deny that the injury had anything to do with the accident. Don’t make it easy for the insurance company to dispute your claim. Always seek medical attention right away after a car accident in Illinois.
5: Contact an Illinois Car Accident Lawyer
You must report any accident to your insurance company within the time limit set by your policy. You must also file a personal injury claim with the other driver’s insurance company to collect compensation. However, it’s always best to have your personal injury lawyer communicate with the insurance companies. Your lawyer will know what to say and how to say it without being taken in by insurance companies’ manipulative tactics.
Your attorney will investigate your accident, file a personal injury claim, and negotiate with the insurance company to obtain maximum compensation. If the insurance company denies your claim or doesn’t want to pay a fair settlement, your Illinois car accident lawyer will take the case to court. Johnston Law Offices P.C. is an experienced motor vehicle accident lawyer. If you’ve been hurt in a car accident in Illinois, contact Johnston Law Offices P.C. immediately.