Thousands of people get into automobile accidents every year, and tens of thousands suffer injuries from car crashes in the area. If you are one of them, and you are staring down the medical and car-repair bills that keep coming in the mail, you might well wonder, “How can I possibly pay for all of this?”

Five Steps to Take if You Are in a Car Accident

Your safety is the number one priority. After an auto accident, the first thing you should do is make sure that you and your passengers are safe. If you can safely do so, this means moving your car out of the path of traffic. After you have ensured the safety of you and your passengers, take the following five steps:

Car Accident Attorney Norcross
  1. Check for injuries: Injuries are common after an accident, so call 911.
  2. Exchange information: The law requires drivers to exchange personal and insurance information following an accident. Be sure to get the other driver’s name, phone number, the name of his or her insurance carrier, the policy number, and a contact number for the insurance company.
  3. Gather evidence: Evidence is an important car crash case. Much of the evidence will come from the scene of the accident. One of the best ways to document evidence is by taking pictures of any vehicle damage (on all cars in the accident), property damage (including skid marks, road signs, and sidewalks), the surroundings and sky to capture weather conditions, and the other driver’s license plates.
  4. Go to the doctor: Get checked out after an accident. Signs of an injury may not appear right away. This is especially true for traumatic brain injuries. A doctor can perform a full exam and check for any signs of injury.
  5. Contact an experienced car wreck attorney Norcross: Car accidents can result in complex cases. After an accident, take immediate steps to protect your right to recover compensation. The law allows accident victims four years to file a car accident lawsuit. However, the sooner you begin your claim, the sooner you can begin to focus on your recovery—and the better your chances for success.

Who to Blame for the Accident?

You can still seek compensation for the accident due to the pure comparative negligence rule, even if your own negligence was partially to blame. An example of this would be if the other driver rear-ended your car due to following too closely, but you also had a brake light out that may have prevented the other driver from seeing that you were slowing down or coming to a stop.

Common Injuries From Car Crashes

  • Broken bones: One of the most common car accident injuries that a person can suffer is broken bones due to sudden impact or twisting. The most common parts of the body to suffer fractures in car accidents include the arms and legs.
  • Traumatic brain injury: traumatic brain injury includes any injury that penetrates or fractures the skull or causes the brain to collide with the skull. More than half of all reported traumatic brain injuries are caused by car accidents.
  • Internal injuries including internal bleeding or damage to the organs caused by the force of the accident, broken ribs, or the body striking objects during the crash.
  • Herniated disc: Also known as a “slipped disc,” a herniated disc occurs when the tough, outer fiber of the spinal discs becomes torn and allows the soft, jelly-like substance in the center of the disc to leak out.
  • Whiplash: Whiplash is a soft tissue neck injury caused by the forceful back and forth motion. Whiplash often presents with neck pain, stiffness, and headaches that typically start at the base of the skull. While most people find that their whiplash symptoms go away within a few weeks, the pain can linger for months or even years for some.