What do you do if you are in a car accident?

If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident, there are several steps you should take to properly protect yourself. Immediately after the accident, check to make sure that everyone is uninjured. If there are injuries, an ambulance should be summoned to assist and transport the injured person or persons. Sometimes people do not feel their injuries immediately or they do not think that an ambulance is necessary. If people respond in this manner, they should be checked out as soon as is possible by their family physician or at an emergency room.

Contact the police

The police should be notified of the accident. This is not required by law if there are no injuries or if all vehicles involved are driveable, but it is wise to do so anyway. For some types of insurance claims, insurance companies require a police report filed within a short period of time after the accident. If a police report is not filed, they may deny our claim.

As soon as is reasonably possible, the vehicles involved should be removed from the roadway. Doing so allows for the passage of other vehicles and also may assist in providing access to the accident scene by emergency responders.

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Exchange driver and insurance information

You should exchange information with the other drivers involved. You should provide your driver’s information and your insurance information to the other people involved in the accident. You should obtain the same information from them and also get their license plate number and you should write down a description of the other vehicles involved. The names and contact information of witnesses should be obtained.

Notify your insurance company

Your insurance company should be advised of the accident in order for them to open claims for coverage through your auto insurance carrier. Failure to do so could give your insurance company reason to deny your claim based upon your failing to follow the requirements of your auto insurance carrier.

Take photographs

As soon as is practical, photographs should be taken of the vehicles involved and the scene of the accident. All of these steps are useful both in protecting yourself against claims made by others but also can be useful in pursuing claims against those that caused your injuries.

Get Appropriate Medical Care

Following the accident you should seek reasonable and necessary medical attention as directed by your family doctor or by the appropriate medical specialist. Your medical bills should then be submitted to your insurance carrier for payment as required by Pennsylvania Law. If appropriate, you should seek legal representation to protect your rights.

From offices in Center Township, Aliquippa, law offices of Palmieri & Matvey, P.C. serves the personal injury and estate administration needs of Western and Southwestern Pennsylvania including the communities of Aliquippa, Center Twp, Beaver, Ambridge, Baden, Beaver Falls, Bridgewater, Chippewa Twp, Conway, Coraopolis, Cranberry Twp, Economy, Ellwood City, Freedom, Harmony, Hopewell, Leetsdale, Midland, Monaca, Moon Twp, New Brighton, New Castle, Patterson Twp, Pittsburgh, Rochester, Shippingport and Vanport; as well as Beaver County, Allegheny County, Washington County, Butler County and Lawrence County and other areas of Western PA.