Lots of people enjoy living and working in Phoenix. There is nothing like the gorgeous outdoor scenery, and the rapidly expanding city has contributed to a driving job market. Unfortunately, this also means that the traffic has gotten worse in Phoenix, and a motor vehicle accident can happen at just about anytime. Even though you will probably have a lot of emotions going through your head following a motor vehicle accident, you must make sure you know exactly what to do next. What are some of the most important steps you need to follow if you are involved in a motor vehicle accident?
Ensure You Can Exit the Vehicle Safely and Call 911
First, you need to make sure you get out of the vehicle safely. Take a look at yourself to make sure you have not suffered any injuries that make it impossible for you to move. Then, take a look at your vehicle, and make sure you identify the safest possible exit from the car itself. Move to the side of the road, and call 911. Even though you might feel like you haven’t suffered any serious injuries, you still need to call 911 to ask for the authorities to come to the same. If you do not ask the authorities to come and assess you following an accident, it will be like the accident has never even happened.
See a Doctor
Next, you should make sure you reach out to a doctor following a motor vehicle accident. Even if you go to the emergency room, you still need to follow up with your primary care doctor. This is important because you need to give your primary care doctor a chance to make sure you are recovering appropriately.
The goal of the emergency room is to make sure you are stable. It is the goal of your primary care doctor to make sure a comprehensive recovery plan has been put in place. When you are done talking to your doctor, make sure you ask for a copy of your medical record. This is important because you might need it later if you want to file a claim. You can hire Schaumburg car accident lawyers, or anywhere else depending on where you’re located, to help you file a claim and negotiate with insurance companies.
Visit a Lawyer
After you are comfortable that there is a plan in place for your recovery, you need to reach out to a Phoenix car accident attorney. A car accident lawyer can take a look at your case and make sure your rights are protected. First, a lawyer can make sure that blame is assigned appropriately following a car accident.
Then, the lawyer can negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf to make sure you receive a fair settlement. If you do not get enough money from the insurance company, a lawyer may be able to file a claim against the other driver directly. If the accident was not your fault, you should not be responsible for any of the financial damages following the accident. Regardless of what happened during the accident, the attorneys at Cheney Galluzzi & Howard, or a similar law firm, should be able to advise you on how to proceed with your case and protect your rights.
Take These Steps After a Car Accident
Even though you might not know exactly what you should do following a collision, you need to make sure you can get out of the vehicle safely. Then, make sure you move to a safe location, and call 911 to ask for the authorities to come to the scene. Keep in mind that you do not have to go through this situation on your own. You need to make sure you reach out to an attorney who can review your circumstances and make sure a full investigation is completed. The sooner you reach out to an expert, the faster you can get yourself on the road to recovery.