What to Do If You Are Involved in a Car Wreck
People frequently ask us what to do when they are involved in a car wreck. Here are our tips:
Call 911 and Report the Car Wreck
Call 911 and report the car wreck. You will be asked what happened, where the wreck occurred, and whether anyone is injured. Calling 911 will prompt the dispatch of the police and EMS.
Cooperate With the Police and EMS
Cooperate with the police and EMS. The investigating police officer should ask all parties for a statement as to what happened and investigate the incident. He or she will make a determination as to the cause of the wreck and issue any warnings or citations.
You should fully cooperate with the police and provide your statement as to what happened and a description of your injuries. Either ask the other driver or the police officer for the insurance information of all vehicles involved in the wreck. You should obtain the name of the other driver’s insurance company and his or her policy number.
Also cooperate with EMS to coordinate any medical care needed.
Open an Automobile Insurance Claim
Open an automobile insurance claim or contact us to do so. A claim should be opened as soon as possible. If you open a claim, you will be asked to give details about when, where, and how the wreck happened. You will also be asked whether you are injured and whether you obtained medical treatment. You should answer these questions fully and honestly.
Handle Vehicle Damage and Rental Coverage
If your vehicle is damaged, you need to open a property damage claim and ask for a rental vehicle. You can open this claim on the at-fault driver’s insurance policy or your own policy if you have full coverage.
You may not be able to open the claim on the other driver’s policy if you do not have that information or do not have the police report yet. In order to get a rental vehicle sooner, you can open a claim on your automobile policy, and your insurance company will later seek reimbursement from the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
Do You Need a Lawyer?
Do you need a lawyer? Our experience is that people injured in a car wreck often receive more money after hiring a lawyer to handle their claim. Insurance companies routinely take advantage of people injured in a car wreck who do not know how the claims process works.
Contact Our Law Firm
If you’ve been injured in a car wreck or have questions about a claim, call our law firm. Our attorneys and staff are very experienced in handling car wreck claims. We have offices in Princeton, Beckley, and Charleston, West Virginia but help clients involved in a car wrecks all over West Virginia and Virginia.