Auto accidents can be devastating. Not only can they cause repairs that drain you financially, but they can also cause physical and emotional injuries that take a long time to heal and keep you from going back to work. Without that income, you can have trouble supporting yourself and your family. The stresses keep growing and you might feel like you don’t have control of your life.
But if you weren’t the one who caused the accident, you shouldn’t have all of these stresses. The party responsible for your accident should have to pay you for the damages they caused. That’s where a Bentonville car accident lawyer comes into play.
At McMath Woods P.A., we understand how difficult life can be after a collision that wasn’t your fault. That’s why we’re here to defend your rights and get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries and other damages. That way you can start getting back to your normal life and focus on what really matters—healing.
Common Car Accident Injuries
When two heavy vehicles collide at any speed, significant damage can be done to the vehicles and anyone inside of them. You might think that only high-speed crashes and cause serious injuries, but that’s not true. Any collision has the capability of severely hurting the passengers inside the motor vehicles.
After a car accident, these are some of the most common injuries you could be facing:
- Bruises and lacerations
- Soft tissue injuries, like whiplash
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Internal organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Loss of limb
- Death
All of these injuries can greatly impact your life and cause you to miss work and subsequently miss out on wages that you would have been earning. That’s why it’s essential to get evaluated right away after an accident—that way a doctor can see what damage has been done and start treating you immediately.
The faster you are treated, the faster you can potentially heal. It’s also important to get evaluated so that you have a record of your injuries, when you suffered from them, and what treatment and prescriptions the doctor prescribed for you. This will come in handy later if you decide to file a claim against the party responsible for your accident.
Our Bentonville car accident lawyer will support you through the entire process of a legal claim so that you can focus on your injuries and healing. Let’s take a look at what steps you should take immediately following an accident so that we can build you the strongest claim possible.
Steps to Take Immediately After a Car Crash
You’ve just been in a car accident that wasn’t your fault. Now what? Here are some of the actions you should take immediately so that you can ensure you are safe, and you gather plenty of information to hold the responsible party accountable for what they’ve done:
- Assess Yourself for Injuries. Before moving, it’s important to assess yourself to see if you have any pain anywhere and if you think you might be injured. If your injuries feel severe, it’s best not to move until medical professionals arrive on the scene. If you can move, you should get out of the way of traffic and move your vehicle to the side of the road if possible.
- Call 911. Once you’re safe, you should call 911. Let them know your location as best as possible and the facts about what happened. Don’t say what you think happened, only objective facts.
- Seek Medical Attention. Depending on how badly you’re injured, one of the first things you should do is seek medical attention. If you think you have serious injuries, but you can still move, you should go to the hospital immediately. If you think you’re not very badly hurt, you can wait until after the other steps, but you should still seek medical attention the same day as the accident so that you can get an accurate and quick evaluation of your injuries.
- Take Pictures of the Scene. While you’re waiting for emergency services to arrive, you should take pictures of the scene so that you have documentation of what happened. You should snap pictures of the cars, license plates, any damages, any obstructions in the road, the surrounding area, the weather, and any injuries you might have. This can help you later when filing a claim.
- Speak to the Police. When the police arrive to make a report, they’ll want to interview you. When you tell them your account of what happened, you’ll want to stick to the facts and not place any blame on anyone, even if you think they caused it. This includes yourself—don’t apologize for anything, as that can be seen as an admission of guilt.
- Exchange Information. Any other drivers involved should exchange their contact information with you, including their insurance information. You’ll want their name, address, phone number, license number, license plate number, and any other information that you might find relevant.
- Get Witness Contact Information. There were probably some other people around who witnessed what happened. You should get their contact information and ask if they’d be willing to be a witness for you if you decide to file a legal claim.
- Hire a Lawyer. The last thing you’ll want to do after an accident is hire an attorney. They’ll be able to guide you through the legal process and ensure that your rights are protected every step of the way.
When you’ve been in a collision in Arkansas, you’ll want a Bentonville car accident lawyer on your side. We’ll fight to get you the justice you deserve after someone else’s negligence caused you harm.
McMath Woods P.A. Will Represent You
We understand that this is a vulnerable time in your life. That’s why McMath Woods P.A. is here for you. Our Bentonville car accident attorney is here to support you and ensure that you have peace of mind knowing we are building you the strongest case possible.
Let us handle the legal side of things while you focus on yourself and your family. Reach out to our office today so we can get started on your potential claim.
