What Should I Do If I Am Involved in a Car Accident?

Going through a car wreck can obviously be a traumatic experience, even if no one is hurt. It can be difficult to think clearly and easy to make mistakes that can seriously damage your chances of obtaining compensation for property damage. Knowing what to do if you are in a car accident can go a long way toward ensuring your rights will be protected.

What Do I Need to Do After a Car Accident?

If you are involved in a car accident in Pennsylvania, the most important thing to remember is that you must not leave the scene of the accident. It is important that you assist anyone involved in the accident, either in your car or the other car, who may be injured. If you leave the scene of an accident, you may have your license revoked or suspended, and you may face even worse charges if someone is injured and you do nothing to help them.

Remember to remain calm. If your vehicle can still be moved, keep it close to the accident but move it to the side of the road to not obstruct traffic. This is particularly true if you have only been involved in a minor “fender bender.” You can actually be fined under Pennsylvania law if you refuse to move your car. Pay attention to the traffic situation around you and any other potential dangers, such as a car fire.

If it is possible and there are no serious injuries, you need to take the following steps:

• Exchange information: This includes your name, where you live, how you can be contacted, your driver’s license information, your license plate number, the make, model and color of your car and your insurance information. The other drivers involved in the crash should also provide this information to you.
• Take pictures: Smartphones are ubiquitous these days, and if you have one, make sure you take pictures of any damage to your car, any damage to the other car, any injuries suffered by passengers in your car as well as pictures of road conditions, weather conditions and perhaps recognizable landmarks. Gather this information as soon as possible.
• Call the police: In Pennsylvania, police do not have to cover a minor fender bender. We cover how to file an accident report in this case below. You should call the police if someone has been seriously injured or killed or if your car or the other driver’s car has suffered significant damage.
• Call your insurance company: You should call your insurance company whether someone hits you and it is not your fault or if you are not sure who is at fault. After an accident, do not embellish the facts or exaggerate the situation to your insurance company. Just tell them as calmly and clearly as possible what happened. Stick to the facts.
• Seek medical attention: Even if you think you have not suffered any serious injury, make an appointment to see your family physician as soon as you can after the accident or visit an emergency room of a local hospital. Make sure you tell them that you have been in an auto accident.
• Have a trusted mechanic inspect your vehicle: Sometimes there are damages to your vehicle that are not visible to the naked eye or readily apparent to someone who is not a professional.

What Should I Not Do After a Car Accident?

There are several things to keep in mind that you should not do at the scene of a car accident:

• Never admit fault: Whether you are talking to the other motorist, the police or your insurance company, never say, “I think it may be partially my fault.” Remember Pennsylvania has a compensatory negligence rule, which means if you are deemed to be even partially responsible for an accident, any compensation you would receive will be reduced by the percentage that is considered your fault. Simply say, “I am not sure what happened. I would rather wait until all the facts have been gathered.”
• Never say you have not been hurt: Even if you feel fine, many injuries do not manifest until hours, days or even weeks after the accident. Further down, we discuss the symptoms you need to watch out for after an accident. If you are asked how you are feeling, you should always say, “I do not know. I want to check with the doctor first.”
• Never accept a settlement on the spot: In some cases, insurance companies will send an adjuster immediately to the accident scene. It is likely at some point they will offer you an immediate settlement. Do not sign any paper until you speak to a car accident lawyer. Simply say, “No, thank you. I prefer to speak to my lawyer first.”
• Never make a recorded statement: You do not have to provide any recorded statements to file an accident report. Making a recorded statement means it can be used against you later if you file a claim.
• Never answer questions you are not asked: It is the human tendency to expand and tell stories. Do not assume that just because you get into what seems like a friendly chat with the other driver that they would never use any information you provide to them in a claim against you. The same goes for any conversation with the police officer. Only answer the questions that you are asked directly.

Is There Anything I Should Do When I Get Home After an Accident?

Write everything down.

One of the most important steps after a car accident will be to jot down everything you possibly can after the wreck takes place. This includes any property damage that may have occurred as well as the details of any injuries you might have suffered and how they affect your daily life. If you are involved in any sort of insurance dispute, these details can help you many months afterward, when your memories of the event could become fuzzy.

Here are just a few of the kinds of things you will want to write down:

• The Accident Itself: Record every detail you can remember regarding the accident, such as where you were going, who you were with, weather conditions, everything. Write down all of the things you felt or saw — every shock to your body, every twisting motion and every blow you might have taken. Also make a record of everything you remember people saying, whether they were involved in the accident or were a witness.
• Your Injuries: If you were hurt, make a note of all the discomfort you experience. This not only means physical pain, but also any lack of sleep or anxiety you might be going through.
• Your Losses: You may have to deal with medical bills, lost wages and other losses.

What Should I Do If I Get Into a Minor Car Accident?

Remember, as we mentioned above, police in Pennsylvania do not have to go to the location of, investigate or report any minor auto accident or “fender bender.” You may not want to report a minor accident for fear that it will increase the cost of your insurance. Not reporting it, however, is against your best interests even if the accident was the result of your negligence.

It is difficult to determine exactly how “minor” an accident is because, in most cases, someone involved in an accident is in a bit of shock or confusion. Not all damages to a car are visible, nor is every injury observable. If you do get into a minor car accident, you should report it. It makes sense to file a report because it will protect you if anyone else involved in the crash files a claim or exaggerates what happened.

Filing a report also makes sense for insurance coverage. If you do not file a report, and then discover at some later date that the accident has damaged your car or caused injuries, not reporting the incident after it happened may void your coverage.

Can You File a Police Report the Day After an Accident?

When you file a report about an accident not investigated by the police, you are not necessarily filing a “police report.” But you are reporting on the accident. This is why it makes sense to gather as much information as possible at the scene of the accident because then filling out the required form will be that much easier. It is also essential to know how much time you have to report a car accident and other aspects of the report form. When you file a report, please note:

• You have up to five days to report the accident after a minor car accident.
• You should use form AA – 600.
• On the form, state the accident’s location. This includes city or town, number of the highway or the street name.
• List everyone involved in the accident. You need the names and addresses of everyone involved, including passengers even if they were not hurt.
• On the form, list the vehicles involved in the accident. You need the licenses and the insurance information of every car involved.
• Draw an accident diagram. The form has a space for you to draw your version of the movement of the cars just before the accident happened as well as when it happened.
• Fill in the narrative. The form also allows you to tell what happened in your own words. Describe everything that was taking place just before the accident and remember to include the weather or road conditions.
• Unfortunately, it is not possible to file this form electronically at the moment. When you have completed the form, you need to mail it within five days to:

Pennsylvania DOT
Bureau of Highway Safety and Traffic Engineering
PO Box 2047
Harrisburg, PA 17105

What Symptoms Should I Look for After a Car Accident?

In many cases, injuries you suffer in a car accident do not show up until days or weeks after an accident. Even a crash at relatively low speeds can generate enough force to injure you.

Here are some of the most common injuries that do not appear until days or weeks after a car accident.

• Whiplash is what is known as a soft tissue injury. Sometimes hours or days after an injury, you will feel pain in your neck or your back, there may be swelling and your mobility could be reduced. Soft tissue industries do not show up on X-rays, so it is important that you see a medical doctor as soon as possible after your accident, even if you feel fine at that moment.
• Symptoms of a concussion often show up after an auto accident. A concussion is an injury to your brain and can be serious. Some signs of a possible concussion include trouble thinking, trouble remembering, headaches, nausea, unusual sleep patterns, dizziness and lapses in concentration. If you experience any of these syndromes, see a doctor immediately if you have not already done so.
• Other symptoms you need to look out for in the days following a car accident include tingling or numbness. Those symptoms may indicate a pinched nerve or herniated disc, any abdominal pain that may be an indication of internal bleeding or even emotional pain including depression or anxiety, which are related to the circumstances of the accident.

Should I Bring a Claim for My Injuries?

If you are hesitant to bring a claim, know that bringing an insurance claim is not the same as filing a lawsuit. Most of our cases settle favorably without filing a lawsuit. However, you may be afraid of being seen as “the suing type.” Know that we represent people just like you — good people who wish the accident had never happened. Like you, they just want the insurance company to treat them fairly.

Every state, including Pennsylvania, requires drivers to carry insurance. These laws make sure there is money available to compensate people who suffer injuries or damages due to another driver’s negligence. If you choose not to bring a claim, you only help the insurance companies. You are basically saying, “I understand the money we spend on insurance is there to compensate me, but I would rather you keep it and increase your profits instead.”

What Should You Not Say to Your Insurance Company After an Accident?

While it is beneficial to speak with your insurance company after an auto accident, you do not want to provide information that could negatively impact your claim.

• As we mentioned above, you should not admit fault to anyone, including your insurance company. You should not apologize, either, as that could imply you were at fault for the accident.
• While you need to file a report within five days of the accident, you do not have to talk to your insurance company immediately following the incident. Give yourself some time to process and write down the details. You will be calmer when it comes to contacting your insurance company.
• Just as you should not tell the insurance company you have not been injured, you should also wait to report injuries or other medical information. Only provide your insurance company with medical reports rather than your interpretation of your injuries.
• Do not offer your opinion on the car accident. Stick with the facts that you have written down and reported to avoid providing misinformation.

An experienced auto accident attorney can further advise you on what you should and should not say to your insurance company after an accident. Our professional team at KBG Injury Law will help you navigate the right course of action following a car crash.

Contact KBG Injury Law After You Have Been in a Car Accident

After an auto accident, it is important to know that you are not alone. Work with our team of experienced lawyers who will guide you through the necessary steps to take after the accident. If you would like more information on what to do if you are in a car accident or if you are having problems with your insurance company after a wreck, KBG Injury Law may be able to help. Visit our contact us page or call 1-800-509-1001 to learn how we can help you.