A car, bicycle, or pedestrian accident happens instantly but can have life-long consequences on your health, finances, and general wellbeing, if not handled properly. As one of the law firms in Prince George, we urge you to follow these steps after an accident occurs.
Immediately
Your first priority is to check for injuries on yourself, your passengers, and any other people involved. If anyone is hurt, call 911 immediately. If it is safe to do so, move any vehicles involved off of the road. At this time it is best not to discuss details of the accident or who is at fault. Make a record. Use the note function on your smartphone to write down details of what happened and encourage your passengers to do the same. Take photos of the vehicles and parties involved as well as the surroundings, traffic signs and weather.
Be sure to note the name, driver’s license number, address, phone numbers and contact information of any other driver(s) involved. Also get their insurance company name and number, and the year, make, and model of their vehicle. Obtain the contact information of any potential witnesses. Contact lawyers in Prince George BC to find out about any legal and financial consequences of your accident. They may ask you questions, which you’ll be able to answer because of the records you just made. Then contact your insurance broker to report the accident and get the claims process started. They will have questions as well.
One Week Later
You should have consulted and met with three people by now: your doctor to get any injuries taken care of, your lawyer in Prince George to discuss the legal and financial consequences of your accident, and your insurance agent to process any insurance claims. If your accident involved your car, it should also be at your mechanic by now to effect repairs. The longer you wait to meet with any of these people, then the more challenging it may become to take care of any issues.
One Month Later
If any new aches or pains appear, follow up with your doctor and your personal injury lawyer in Prince George. Injuries related to your incident may not show up until many weeks or months later. Be sure to keep attending any physiotherapy sessions that were prescribed to take care of previous symptoms. They are an effective way to bring your body up to a pre-accident norm. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, don’t hesitate to contact a personal injury lawyer at Dick Byl Law Corporation.