5 Crucial Steps To Take After A Crash Caused By Someone’s Negligence

Today’s topic: Steps to take after a car crash.

Chattanooga, Tennessee, sits between mountains and rivers—a beautiful place to drive, but also one where accidents happen more often than they should. 

With busy interstates and winding local roads, even one distracted or reckless driver can turn a normal day into a nightmare. 

Sadly, many of these are preventable high-speed car crashes in Chattanooga, TN, caused by someone’s negligence.

If you ever find yourself in that situation, knowing what to do next can make all the difference. 

So, you need to know what steps to take after a car crash, when to hire an attorney, and how to navigate through the legal case.

And that’s exactly what we are delving into in this article today. So, keep reading to know more!

Key Takeaways

• Assess whether anyone is injured and leave the area of danger.
• Contact law enforcement and obtain a copy of the accident report.
• Take pictures of the damage and record all details in writing.
• Obtain medical attention, even if you have no serious injury.
• Stay organized while working through insurance companies.

What Steps To Take After A Car Crash?

Given that any car crash can feel exhausting, knowing exactly how to traverse through the aftermath can provide a tad bit of relief. So, here are some of the immediate steps to take after a car crash—

1. Check For Severe Injuries And Get Medical Treatment

The first seconds after a crash feel blurry. Take a breath and check for injuries—yours and anyone else’s. Move to a safe area, away from traffic if you can. 

So, don’t try to “walk it off.” Even minor impacts can cause hidden injuries like concussions or internal bruising. So, it is better to get it treated before it turns into a future medical mishap. 

According to the CDC, about 2.1 million people visit emergency rooms for crash injuries each year in the U.S. 

That is, getting checked right away not only protects your health—it also creates a medical record if you later need to prove injury.

2. Call The Police And File The Case

Even if the crash seems minor, call 911. Remember, it doesn’t matter what kind of car crash you experience; reporting to the police matters. 

Moreover, they take—

• photos of the accident, 
• obtain driver information, and 
• gather details that could indicate a negligent action (i.e., speeding, texting, and running red lights).

Also, they complete a police report as required by Tennessee state law for all accidents resulting in injury to people, death, or when property damage exceeds $1500.00. 

And, even though it seems unnecessary, the police report will become part of the official documentation. That is, it will come in handy while filing for compensation claims or court dates.

3. Collect The Evidence To File The Case

Although most evidence will be collected by the police during the investigation, you might feel like not keeping any record.

But keeping your own record can help in getting maximum compensation from the insurance companies. So, while you wait, use your phone to capture:

• Photos of vehicles involved in the crash, the crash site, and any skid marks,
• Close-ups of damage or visible injury relevant to the crash,
• Names and details of the other party, including contact info of witnesses

Now, if the other driver admits fault or apologizes, note that too. But don’t argue or accuse. Rather, try to stay calm and factual. 

Moreover, your evidence will come in handy even when memory fades. So, it is better to capture the important details while the incident is fresh.

4. Seek Medical Treatment And Keep Records

Adrenaline can hide pain for hours. Always get checked by a doctor, even if you feel fine. Some injuries—such as whiplash—may not appear for days. 

Keep every relevant document, including—

• medical bills, 
• prescriptions, and 
• doctors’ notes. 

These records link your injuries to the crash and show how negligence affected you physically and financially.

5. Notify Your Insurance Company And Stay Organized

Report the crash to your insurer promptly, but refrain from providing a detailed statement until you understand your rights. 

Stick to the facts: time, place, vehicles involved. Keep all correspondence, repair estimates, and medical receipts in one folder. 

If another driver’s negligence caused the wreck, this evidence supports your claim for fair compensation.

When To Hire A Lawyer For A Car Crash Case?

Navigating through a car crash court case is not a piece of cake. You need to be efficient and legally knowledged to easily go through the different steps of the legal processes.

But traversing through the case can be made easy with the involvement of an experienced medical representative. That is, hiring a lawyer can make navigating through the process quite simple and easy.

So, here are some of the situations right after a car accident when you should hire a lawyer—

Right After Medical Treatment: 

Firstly, you need to hire a lawyer to handle the car crash case right after the accident. That is, after you get your medical treatment or first aid on the site, it is vital to hire a lawyer.

Before Giving Your Statements: 

Moreover, before giving your statement to the police, you should get in touch with your lawyer. 

That is, they can guide you on how to give your statement, so that you can get the maximum claim for the losses.

Highly Severe Injuries:

Also, if you have incurred highly severe personal injuries from the car crash, you should immediately hire a lawyer to manage the case on your behalf. 

That is, they can keep the medical records, draft the legal documents, and fight on your behalf.

Disputed Liability: 

Additionally, if the liability for the case is disputed or the driver is denying their fault, then it is better to hire a lawyer. 

They can help you mitigate the dispute and prove the negligence through the evidence they find.

Issues With Insurance: 

Finally, if you are facing issues with getting the insurance or compensation claim from the company, a lawyer can be quite helpful. 

That is, they can evaluate the compensation, fight on your behalf, and negotiate the compensation, so you get the maximum amount.

Following these tips can be beneficial as they protect your well-being, uphold your legal rights, and enable you to recover more quickly from a crash caused by another person’s actions or inactions.