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Your Pennsylvania Car Accident Checklist

You hear news stories and statistics about car accidents quite frequently, but a closer look at trends really puts the risks into perspective. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PA DOT), there are almost 325 total motor vehicle crashes in the state every day. There is one fatality from auto collisions every 7 hours, and 8 people suffer injuries in these incidents every 60 minutes. Your chance of being involved in a car accident in Pennsylvania is 1 in 50, and the odds that you will be injured in a crash are 1 in 186.

These statistics are shocking, but they make you realize that it is important to be prepared if you are hurt in a traffic collision. A useful tool under the circumstances is a Pennsylvania Car Accident Checklist, which gives you some guidance on how to protect your health and your rights. You can trust your Philadelphia auto crash attorney to handle legal details, but the following tips are useful.

Get Medical Care

Your first priority after a crash should be seeking appropriate treatment for your injuries, whether at the ER, an urgent care center, or your physician’s office. Your injuries could be severe, and you need a proper diagnosis and treatment to increase your chances of recovery. Plus, getting medical care supports your legal rights when seeking compensation. If you delay, the message you send is that your injuries are minor.

Call 911

Unless someone else does it first, grab your cell phone and dial 911 to get first responders on the way. You and others may need care at the scene, and EMTs will arrive to provide basic treatment. Police will also be present, which is important because officers will prepare a police report that could be useful as evidence.

Exchange Information

Drivers are required to provide contact, insurance, and driver’s license details, so fulfill this duty after the collision. However, do not offer information or engage in a chat with other drivers. You might implicate yourself for causing the accident if you make admissions or other statements.

Gather Evidence at the Scene

You can use your cell phone to capture important proof, such as pictures and video of:

  • Damage to vehicles;
  • Your injuries;
  • Signs, signals, lane markings, and other traffic controls;
  • Businesses and buildings in the vicinity;
  • Weather and traffic conditions; and,
  • Any other relevant evidence.

Use Caution When Dealing with an Insurance Company

Shortly after the crash, you may be contacted by the at-fault driver’s insurer. You should decline to answer questions, avoid making any statements, and never consent to having the conversation recorded. Provide your attorney’s contact information for the company to deal directly.

Contact a Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer Right Away

Because of the complexities of the legal process, a priority item on your Pennsylvania Car Accident Checklist should be retaining an experienced attorney. Quinn Law Group is ready to support you, so please contact us to schedule a free consultation. You can call (215) 360-3666 or visit us online to speak to a member of our team.