What to Do After a Car Accident That’s Not Your Fault in Pennsylvania

Whether the car accident is a minor fender-bender or a high-speed collision on a highway, you must be ready and prepared to take action to protect your rights, ensure that your bodily injuries and property damage are assessed and taken care of, and secure compensation to cover the costs of your losses.

The steps to take after a car crash in York, PA

There are certain steps you must take immediately after a car accident, and there are others you should take within a few days of the crash. We will go over each step to take below.

Move the car to safety

Even if the accident appears to be minor, you should stop and remain at the scene. If your vehicle is not severely damaged and you are physically able to, move your car to a safe location. This is because you want to avoid causing additional accidents. If your car is badly damaged or you are seriously injured, you should remain where you are.

Check yourself and others for injuries

Next, you should check yourself and your passengers for injuries. If you are physically able to, you should also check on the driver and passengers in the other vehicle. While you may be angry, upset, or shaken up, you must remain calm and ask if everyone is fine or if emergency medical services are needed.

Call 9-1-1

Even if the crash seems minor, you should call 9-1-1. The reason for this is that it is difficult to initially know how much damage has been done to your car and how severe your injuries are right after the accident. The 9-1-1 dispatcher will ask you several questions about the location of your accident, who is involved, what type of vehicle you and the other person are driving, whether you have any passengers, and whether anyone is seriously injured. They may also want to stay on the line until the police arrive.

Speak with the police

Once the police arrive on the scene you will need to answer questions about the accident, such as where you were going, whether you or your passengers were hurt, whether you were speeding or doing anything illegal, and more. The police officers will create a police report based on what they see at the scene of the accident and your and the other driver’s answers to their questions. Therefore, it is crucial that you do not say anything that could indicate that you were at fault. Even if you think you may have done something wrong that contributed to the crash, you should never say this to the police.

Exchange information with the other driver

Before leaving the accident scene, you should exchange information with the other driver. This includes name, phone number, address, insurance information, license plate number, driver’s license number, vehicle make and model, and more. Although you may not want to talk or have a conversation with the other driver, it is crucial that you get this information for your records. If you see any nearby witnesses who may have noticed your accident, you can exchange contact information with them.

Document the crash scene

While this may be difficult to do, you should also consider documenting the crash scene. This involves taking photos, recording videos, and writing down any information you think is important. For example, you may want to take photos of the damage to the vehicles, record videos of the road debris and markings, and write down information about how the vehicles are positioned. After you leave the accident scene, it is easy to forget certain details, so it is essential to document as much as possible.

Seek medical attention

No matter how you feel after the accident, you should seek medical attention right away. Victims of minor car accidents can often suffer hidden injuries, such as concussions or damage to their spinal cord. You should visit the nearest emergency room or make an immediate appointment with your primary care physician to rule out any hidden injuries as soon as possible.

Four steps to take within the first few days of the crash

Report the accident to your insurance company

After taking a couple of days to rest and heal, you should call and report the accident to your insurance company. You are still required to notify your insurance company of a crash, even if it was not your fault.

Start gathering evidence

You must take the time to start gathering any evidence pertaining to your crash. This may be photos, videos, witness statements, police reports, surveillance footage, dash cam footage, prescriptions, medical records, doctors’ notes, bills or receipts, and more. The goal is to avoid any disputes or disagreements that arise about your accident, which strong and convincing evidence can help you with.

Write about your hardships in a journal

Since hardships are common after crashes, it is a good idea to write about them in a journal. For example, write down how you struggle to climb the stairs, get dressed, brush your teeth, get out of bed, or do anything else from your normal routine. This will help the insurance company, judge, or juror understand the extent of your pain and suffering caused by the crash.

Speak with and hire a York car accident lawyer

Most car accidents are challenging. To protect yourself, you should consider hiring a car accident lawyer. You will first schedule a consultation to speak with the attorney. Then, you will decide whether to hire them to fight for your rights. Regardless of how minor or severe your accident is, your lawyer will know how to handle any problems that emerge while you continue to focus on healing.

Have you or a loved one recently been involved in an accident in York, PA? If so, the car accident attorneys at KBG Injury Law can assist you. Our team is committed to standing up and advocating for your rights and ensuring that you receive the justice and financial recovery you are owed. Please call our office or submit our contact form for a free consultation today. We have offices in York, Lancaster, Hanover, Harrisburg, and Gettysburg for your convenience.