The moments following a collision have a significant impact on your health and financial future, and contacting a car accident lawyer in Pikeville, KY, should be on your checklist.
It’s important to keep in mind that getting legal advice and representation is not necessarily the first thing people who suffer automobile crash injuries should prioritize. At Johnson Law Firm, we are committed to the health and well-being of our valued community members. That’s why we’re sharing this overview of what to do following a collision and precisely when to call a car accident lawyer in Pikeville.
Check for Injuries
The sounds of breaking glass and the hard impact of a careless driver hitting your automobile typically cause a rush of adrenaline. When this occurs, car accident victims may not immediately feel the pain accompanying a car wreck injury. Before exiting the vehicle, conduct a wellness check of yourself and any passengers. This remains a crucial first step because trying to stand upright or walk could result in a fall. These are common car crash injuries to consider when conducting a wellness check.
- Broken Bones
- Bruises and Abrasions
- Damaged Joints
- Strained Connective Tissue
- Low Back Injuries
- Spinal Cord Trauma
- Internal Injuries
- Whiplash
- Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries
Even if you feel well enough to exit the vehicle, keep in mind that adrenaline often overrides our ability to identify trauma and injury. It’s also important to note that soft tissue injuries may sometimes not present symptoms for days, weeks, or even months.
Call 911 and Gather Information
If you are concerned about an injury, remain in the vehicle as long as it is in a safe location. Dial 911 and explain to a professional at the call center the nature of your emergency and whether you or others sustained an injury. You should engage in the following information-gathering steps until you feel well enough to stand and move about.
- Exchange Information: Ask the other driver to provide their license, insurance policy number, and registration. Take a photo of these documents with your cell phone.
- Photograph Scene: Walk around the accident scene and take pictures with your cell phone. The more angles you capture, the clearer the evidence will be to support your car accident case.
- Talk to Witnesses: In all likelihood, other drivers will pull over to help, and you may be fortunate enough that pedestrians saw the crash. Speak to potential witnesses and get their information. Witness statements may be necessary to establish the other driver acted negligently.
When a patrol officer arrives, providing only a fact-based account of how the collision occurred is essential. It’s not unusual for good people to feel as if the accident was somehow their fault. Resist giving an apology or emotional response because it may be used to create a false sense you were at fault. This is an important factor in getting fully compensated for your losses.
Provide the officer with an accurate account of the incident. Request the officer’s business card and indicate you will need to get a copy of the accident report. Ask about the usual time it takes to pick up an accident report. It typically takes one or two days, but some departments operate short-handed, and delays may occur.
Once these preliminary car accident efforts have been completed, place a brief call to your insurance carrier and alert them about the collision. Defer any fact-based questions by indicating you will secure a copy of the accident report and plan to file a claim. It may be prudent also to let the insurance company knows you plan to seek medical attention.
Get a Medical Evaluation and Treatment
If you suffer substantial trauma from the automobile collision, ask the officer at the scene to call an ambulance. While you may feel like a friend could drive you to a nearby hospital or urgent care facility, having EMTs present ensures you receive any necessary treatment during transport.
Even if you do not feel like you’ve sustained an injury, proceed to a medical facility promptly. The injuries sustained in a car accident may not manifest quickly, and some can prove life-threatening. This is particularly true of concussions and traumatic brain injuries.
During the post-crash examination, a medical professional tests for obvious and subtle signs of injury. What may seem like wooziness from all the excitement could be the symptoms of a serious concussion. That slight tightness in your neck or lower back may point to a soft tissue injury.
Without proper and immediate care, these car accident injuries could worsen. Having a medical evaluation conducted following a hard impact also helps support an insurance claim and a car accident injury case.
Contact A Car Accident Lawyer in Pikeville
An experienced car accident lawyer ensures that people injured due to someone else’s negligence receive the full, fair compensation they deserve.
This usually begins by negotiating a settlement with the insurance company. These corporations are notorious for offering injured drivers quick cash far below the potential losses and value of a car accident case. It’s crucial to remember big insurance is more interested in their profit and bottom line than your losses. We’ll hold their feet to the fire and make sure you are not short-changed.
Attorneys who handle car accident filings on a daily basis also know how to build a strong case on your behalf. Kentucky is considered a “no-fault” state because state law requires motorists to file an initial claim with their insurance company. Although motorists can opt out of personal injury protection, minimum coverages are still required. These include bodily injury liability coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, property damage liability coverage of $10,000 per accident, and a combined $60,000 combined liability coverage.
While the state requires motorists to recover initial losses from their carrier, a civil lawsuit can also e brought against the negligent driver and their insurance company. If your losses involve the following, you have the right to file a civil lawsuit.
- Medical expenses are $1,000 or greater.
- You suffered permanent disfigurement.
- You sustained a fracture to a weight-bearing bone.
- You sustained a compound, compressed, or displaced fracture of any bone.
- You suffer permanent loss of bodily function.
- The accident resulted in a permanent injury or disability.
If you or a loved one suffered a loss due to a negligent driver’s carelessness, it would be fundamentally unfair for you to also pay medical bills, lost wages, or suffer without being compensated. At Johnson Law Firm, we work tirelessly to ensure our valued community members get the full, fair compensation they deserve. Call our Pikeville car accident attorneys or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation.
