What Do You Do After a Car Accident in Baton Rouge?
When you’re in a car accident in Baton Rouge it’s completely normal to be unsure of what to do. Most drivers will be nervous, confused, and disoriented after an accident. We completely understand. However, you must take certain crucial steps to obtain important information after an accident occurs.
Baton Rouge is notorious for bad drivers, car accidents, and extremely high insurance rates.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Baton Rouge?
Car accidents are stressful. But, with the right car accident checklist, you will know exactly what to do when an accident occurs. Use the information below to help you through the process after an accident. Following this list ensures you don’t leave yourself unprotected after a car accident in Baton Rouge.
1. Ensure Your Safety
The first thing you should do after any traffic accident is ensure your own safety. You should also check on the safety of those in the vehicle with you. This may mean moving your vehicle from traffic lanes or removing yourself from the vehicle to prevent injury. Check yourself and your passenger and address everyone’s current condition. If someone is injured, contact the police immediately and tell them you need medical assistance.
Depending on the location of the accident, it may be necessary to set up flares or turn on your hazard lights to warn oncoming traffic of the incident. If you’re not able to do this, consider using a flashlight to warn vehicles as the approach.
2. Contact The Police
Anytime you’ve been involved in a car accident in Baton Rouge it’s absolutely crucial to contact the police as soon as possible. Having a police report on file to document the incident will help you with any insurance claims that come from the incident. This step is extremely important to help protect you and your property after the incident is done, especially in a situation where the other driver is uninsured.
3. Gather Necessary Information
The most important thing you can do after a car accident in Baton Rouge is to gather as much information as you can about the incident. Speak to the other people involved and get their contact information.
- Take notes on a piece of paper or on your phone to document your account of the incident. Traumatic events like a car accident can be jarring, so it’s important to document your thoughts as they happen.
- Gather everyone’s contact information including drivers’ licenses, insurance information, and contact information.
- Make sure the person driving is the registered owner of the vehicle. If they are not the registered owner, make sure to get that person’s information as well.
- Take photos of the accident scene from multiple angles. Make sure to capture the license plates on both vehicles. If there are skid marks or tire tracks, document them as well. Additionally, you should take photos of any relevant stop signs, traffic signals, obstructions, or road conditions.
- Take notes about the accident. How did it happen? What was damaged? What was the weather like? Were any other vehicles or people involved?
- Get the contact information, names, and badge numbers of any responding police officers.
4. Contact Your Insurance Company
You should notify your insurance company of the accident as soon as possible after you leave the scene. Make sure to provide them with all the information you collected. That includes photos, video, contact information, and the police report information. If you had to visit the emergency room or a doctor as a result of the accident, make sure to also inform them of any injuries that occurred.
5. Seek Medical Attention Immediately
If you sustained an injury during the accident, or begin noticing problems in the days following, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Often, injuries sustained during a car accident won’t be noticeable right away. It’s normal to be a bit sore for a few days following an accident, but if you feel like you may have been injured it’s important not to wait to see a doctor, even if you’re worried about medical expenses.
Injured in a Car Accident in Baton Rouge? Here’s What to Do
If you were injured in a car accident or notice minor injuries within the days following the accident, it’s important to seek medical attention immediately. Even if you weren’t taken to the emergency room when the accident happened, injuries can still occur that require medical attention. Symptoms of injuries like whiplash or concussion may not appear immediately. If you think you’ve been injured, it is always better to be safe and contact your doctor immediately.
Should I Contact a Lawyer After a Car Accident?
You are not required to hire a lawyer after a car accident in Baton Rouge, but in certain circumstances, it is highly recommended. Hiring a lawyer can help you breeze through the claims process and ensure that your rights are protected and that you receive the compensation you deserve.
When you’ve been injured in a car accident that requires medical attention or if there was significant damage to your vehicle, it can be difficult to negotiate with insurance companies on your own. By hiring an experienced lawyer to represent you during the process, you can rest easy knowing that you’re being protected and insurance companies won’t take advantage of you.
Car accidents can lead to medical bills, lost wages, or diminished quality of life. Someone with the knowledge and experience to help you through the process can not only make things easier on you, but they could also help you receive more compensation as a result.
Have you been injured in a car accident recently? Contact WCW as soon as possible for legal protection. If you have any questions call us at 225-383-4010 or email us at help@lawyerbatonrouge.com to speak to one of our attorneys. Additionally, you can also fill out this form and receive a FREE and confidential consultation for your case. Let’s work together on your case.