After an auto accident, the decisions you make in the aftermath can be very important.  You may be traumatized, injured and confused, but hopefully you will be able to follow the suggestions put together by experienced Grand Rapids auto accident attorneys.

Before you contact a personal injury attorney, take the following steps to help protect your rights and take care of your immediate injuries.

Assess the Situation

As soon as your car comes to a stop, assess the situation.  Are you hurt?  If so, call 911 immediately.   If you can, move your car to the side of the road and put on your hazard lights.   If your car is not drivable, stay in your car with the hazards flashing and you seatbelt on.  Call your area’s roadside assistance or highway assistance to help move your car.

Call the Police

If the police have not arrived, call them to the scene of the accident so they can complete an accident report.  Filing a police report will document the facts of the accident and help your auto accident attorney assess your claim.

Gather Information

You’ll need to collect certain information to help your Grand Rapids auto accident attorney manage your accident claim since there are lawyers that specialize in automobile accidents which can help you in a better way.  Exchange the following with the other drivers: name, address, phone number, insurance information, license plate number and make and model of the cars involved.  Also, take pictures of the scene and of your injuries, if possible.  Finally, obtain the names and telephone numbers of any witnesses. You can check out this site to learn more on how to get your accident report.

Do Not Give Statements to Insurance Company Representatives

You should never give statements to claims adjusters or anyone else, unless you have first talked to a personal injury lawyer.  Any admission of responsibility can be used against your case later. Hence, you should consult personal injury lawyers after the accident so you’ll know the best way to handle and present your case to your insurance company.

These first steps are important ones to help protect your rights immediately after a crash. Even more important is contacting an experienced car accident law expert to get you the compensation that you deserve.