You should immediately contact the police, seek medical care, and get legal assistance after a crash in Indianapolis. You can get professional help understanding the steps you need to take from a legal professional. An attorney can help with your personal injury claim, handle insurance agents, and answer any questions you have, giving you more time to recover. An experienced Indianapolis car accident lawyer can also explain crash victims' rights.
You Should Contact the Police After a Car Accident
After an accident, you should get to a safe location at the crash site and call 911. In Indiana, unless you're going to get emergency medical care, it is illegal to leave the scene of an accident that results in injuries, death, or significant property damage. However, you can move your vehicle out of traffic to prevent the chances of causing an additional collision. For example, you could pull into a nearby parking lot or off the road by the accident scene. So, wait at the scene until law enforcement arrives, usually the Indianapolis Metro Police Department (IMPD) or Indiana State Police (ISP). Once the police officer arrives, get their name, badge number, and agency. This information will help locate a critical piece of evidence: the Indiana crash report.Seek Immediate Medical Care After a Car Accident
You should seek medical attention if you sustain an injury in a car accident. Often, accident victims sustain serious injuries – like a traumatic brain injury (TBI), concussion, fractured bones, spinal cord injury, or internal damage – that do not show immediate symptoms. Car accident victims frequently experience delayed pain. An EMT may be able to detect severe damage before you do. Ideally, you will see a doctor on the same day as the crash. In Indianapolis, emergency trauma care is available at places like:- IU Health Methodist Hospital
- Ascension St. Vincent Indianapolis
- Riverview Health Emergency Room & Urgent Care in Zionsville
Collect Evidence After Your Crash
You may find a lot of solid evidence to support your claim at the crash site that will only be available briefly. The authorities will move wrecked vehicles out of the road, rain can wash away tire marks, and witnesses' memories will fade. So, if your health and safety allow, start collecting evidence at the crash site. Accident attorneys recommend that you take photos and video of the wreck, including:- Vehicle position
- Road conditions
- Physical evidence like skid marks and broken glass
- Injuries
- Property damage
Keep a Private Record of the Crash
As soon as you can, write down the details you can remember from the crash, like time of day, location, road and weather conditions, actions taken by yourself or the other driver before the collision, injuries, and any other details. Then, maintain a daily account of your crash injuries and treatment. Include descriptions of how the injuries are affecting your daily life. Your record could become important evidence to support your case and may help you recall details throughout the claims process.Call Your Insurance Company
Most car insurance policies require you to inform them about an accident soon after it occurs. Skipping this step could hurt your claim. When you contact your insurance company, stick to the facts and say as little as possible: time, date, location, and names of those involved. Do not go into detail about what happened, fault, or your injuries. It is enough at this time to say that you are being medically treated and leave it at that. Assume the insurance company will record you, but do not agree to make an informal or formal statement about the crash. If you have a lawyer, they can handle notifying your insurance company for you. You can also refer any future questions or requests the insurance company has about your claim to your lawyer.Contact an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer
You can improve your chances of getting fair compensation after a crash by contacting a lawyer immediately. What does a car accident lawyer do? An attorney can:Answer Your Questions
Your attorney can provide clear and straightforward answers to any questions you have. Therefore, you can rely on a lawyer to explain what to do after a car accident in Indianapolis. Your lawyer will also explain your options for filing accident claims and discuss the steps you should take, helping you through each step of this stressful experience by providing professional legal advice.Help with the Insurance Company
Your attorney can handle all communication with the insurance company while working to help you get the settlement you deserve after a crash. Your lawyer may need to file technical forms and legal documents and, ultimately, beat an experienced insurance adjuster in a high-stakes negotiation that determines whether your settlement will cover your losses or run out before you get better. Don't take on the insurance company alone. An insurance adjuster's job is to save the insurance company money, and that means reducing or rejecting your claim. That's why you should never accept a financial offer from an insurance company without at least having a free consultation with a lawyer first.Gather Evidence About Your Car Accident
Lawyers must establish that someone else caused your auto accident through negligence to bring you compensation for your losses. An experienced attorney will vary the strategies used to investigate based on the specifics of your situation. Depending on your circumstances, your attorney may:- Get a copy of the official police report
- Visit the scene of your auto accident
- Collect witness statements from everyone who saw the crash
- Gather photos and videos showing the crash