What To Do After An Auto Accident

KANSAS CITY, MO, October 12, 2012 (Press-News.org) Personal injury lawyers throughout Kansas City are flooded with hundreds of auto accident claims each year. Both the reasons for the accident (inattentive drivers, drunk drivers, distracted drivers, negligent drivers, etc.) and the extent of the damage they cause (from "fender benders" to devastating accidents causing large amounts of property damage, extensive physical or bodily injuries and even death) vary to large degrees.

Given the unpleasant reality of the large number of car accident victims we at Adler & Manson encounter each year, we've included the following informative guide outlining what to do from a legal perspective if you experience a car accident:

1. Safety permitting, move your vehicle to the side of the road. If you are unable to do so, activate your emergency flashers to signal to other drivers to go around you
2. Check all those present in the car for injuries, and call for or seek medical help if necessary
3. Exit your vehicle once you determine if it is safe to do so and that you are physically capable
4. Call the police who will then make a police report. Make sure to report all facts involved in the accident for the sake of insurance and to document what occurred. Stay on the scene of the accident until the police permit you to go.
5. If you have a camera, take pictures of the scene. If you don't have a camera, check your phone for camera capabilities.

Obtaining records is of vital importance to document your position for settlement and for any lawsuit that might follow:

1. Exchange names, addresses, phone numbers, and insurance information with other drivers involved in the accident.
2. Take down the contact information of any witnesses and of the investigating policy officers or highway patrol.
3. Be courteous to the other driver and passengers. However, avoid discussing the accident with any other drivers or witnesses other than to see what they know. An apology for the injuries of the other driver or its occupants, or other comments, can be perceived as an admission of liability which can cause you legal troubles down the road.
4. Mentally note and write down at earliest convenience the facts surrounding the accident. Make note of date, time, location and weather or any other contributing factors.
5. Contact your insurance agent to report the accident and file a claim
6. Contact a qualified personal injury attorney who will know how to deal with your auto accident case.

Though it is advisable to contact your insurance agency, some drivers prefer not to in order to avoid an increase in insurance rates and prefer to pay out of pocket. The choice is yours, though it is usually advisable to speak both with an attorney and your insurance agent in the event of an auto accident.

In the event of a hit-and-run collision, meaning the other driver flees the scene of the accident, contact the police as soon as possible. Fleeing the scene of an accident is a crime and the police should be notified.