Following a car crash, you may be disoriented, filled with adrenaline, confused, and upset. It’s hard to know what to do after a wreck, and if the other party is at fault, they may try to take advantage of your uncertainty for their benefit. Find out what car crash injury lawyers in Alabama say to do after an accident.

1. Call 911

Immediately following a crash, the other party may try to pressure you to keep the authorities out of it. You must call 911; in Alabama you are legally required to if the accident results in personal injury or property damage over $250.

When emergency services respond to the scene of an accident, they do several things, which are critical if your case later goes to court:

• Motor Vehicle Crash Report: this is an official document that creates a detailed record of the crash.
• EMT or ambulance: if the responding EMTs advise you to go to the hospital, do so. They will document any injuries which may be crucial for a court case.
• Witness statements: police have training in gathering witness statements, an essential component to refute claims the accident was your fault.

Sometimes, the authorities cannot make it to the scene of an accident. In those circumstances, go to the nearest precinct and file the accident report yourself. Always get a copy of the accident report from the police.

2. Call your insurance provider.

Accidents are the reason you have insurance. Your insurance company deals with accidents all the time, and they can walk you through what you’ll need for the claims process and what to expect next. You also need to exchange information with the other driver, most notably:

• Name and contact information
• Insurance company and policy number
• Vehicle make, model, and license plate number
• Driver’s license number

It’s understandable if you’re shaken up at the scene of the crash. Still, additional information will help you in the long run, such as:

• Names and badge numbers of responding officers
• Pictures of the crash scene and the damage to the cars
• The names and phone numbers of all passengers and witnesses

The more information you have, the better prepared you’ll be to take your case to court if you need to.

3. Call a personal injury lawyer.

You may not even need a lawyer to resolve your claim. Still, by talking to an experienced lawyer who’s knowledgeable about personal injury cases, you’ll know what to expect in case of escalation. They can also provide you with important advice such as:

• Don’t speak to the other party’s insurance: the other insurance company will pressure you to accept partial blame. You’re under no obligation to talk to them, and you shouldn’t.
• Keep detailed records: the more information you have, the better prepared you are to file an injury claim under Alabama’s complicated laws.
• Settlement or court: inexperienced car crash injury lawyers may rush to an inequitable settlement. Research your lawyer before calling.

Trust a personal injury lawyer with experience taking cases to court and winning. They can help relieve the financial burden you sustained from a car crash injury.

Contact Maxwell Tillman Trial Lawyers for a free consultation following a car crash injury.

Our team at Maxwell Tillman are lawyers for the people. We don’t represent corporations, hospitals, or insurance companies–just people. And we know how to win cases. With a 97.7% personal injury success rate, companies know we have the experience, the resources, and the tenacity to take them on in court.

Call us for a free consultation, and we’ll put our expertise to work for you. If the negligence of someone else has injured you, let us fight for you.