Being in a car accident is an odd experience because it is first about safety. You need to make sure everyone is safe. However, it is also about preserving evidence and getting a police report to prove liability to potentially sue the person who hit you. So, you simultaneously want to make sure they are okay, but you also want to make sure there’s evidence to sue them later. This is why it is so important to prepare for car crashes now.
The prep step
The prep step is all about what you need to prepare for a Lawnside, New Jersey, car accident now, before a car crash. The first thing you need is a dashboard camera. If you have spent any time on social media, you have seen the online videos from these modern miracles. However, what you may not realize is that these videos are priceless for personal injury lawsuits. They hold negligent drivers accountable for their actions because no matter what they claim, the videos do not lie.
After the impact
Check yourself, your people, your car and your surroundings. If you smell or see smoke, turn off your car, and if anyone is seriously injured, call 9-1-1 immediately. Otherwise, take a quick video of your surroundings, turn on your hazards and pull off to the side of the road to safety. Obstructing the road can cause additional accidents.
The next step
Once you are in a safe location, call 9-1-1. Give them your name, contact information and location. Let them know you were in a car accident with injuries, and you need police and an ambulance because there are injuries. Remember, these days, 9-1-1 dispatchers are looking for reasons not to dispatch, so the longer you stay on the phone, the higher the likelihood they will not dispatch. Of course, if you need to administer first aid, staying on the phone with them is vital.
Documentation step
Before the Lawnside, New Jersey, police officer arrives, you can get witness information, the other driver’s information, including their insurance and the vehicle information. Once the police arrives, get their information and how to get a police report. Get the information on how to get the ambulance report as well, along with the ER report and any other reports generated for your treatment. Your attorney will need everything. And, do not forget to carefully store your SD card from your dashboard camera.