10 Steps to Take After A Car Accident in Washington

10 steps to take after a car accident in Washington.

As many people involved in collisions know, whiplash and other soft tissue injuries are not always immediately present or noticed. That is why it is important that you follow these steps if you are in a car crash. We recommend you read the following 10 steps you can take immediately to protect yourself and your family:

1. Call 9-1-1 if anyone is injured and ask for medical assistance.
2. Take photos of the scene of the accident as soon as possible, preferably before the vehicles are moved. If the position of the vehicles after the crash are creating a road hazard, move the vehicles to a safe location.
3. Contact the police and request that an officer be dispatched to the scene to take statements and if appropriate, issue a citation. Cooperate with the police when they arrive, but do not admit to fault.
4. Get a photograph of the at-fault parties drivers license and insurance information. Also, obtain contact information of any witnesses who observed the collision.
5. Do not communicate with or give any sort of statement to the at-fault driver’s insurance company until after you have talked with an experienced Vancouver auto accident attorney.
6. Do report the claim to your auto insurance company. If you are hurt, tell your insurance company and make sure to ask for the Med Pay or Personal Injury Protection (PIP) claim number. This claim number allows you to get reasonable and necessary medical treatment that you need.
7. If you are hurt, seek immediate medical attention. Do not delay—it could jeopardize your recovery and your bodily injury claim. Make sure to tell your treating doctor all of your symptoms.
8. Fill out the Washington State Patrol Motor Vehicle Collision Report if anyone involved was injure or if any vehicle involved had more than $1,000 in property damage. 
9. Do not verbally settle or release your personal injury claim.
10. Contact the experienced auto accident attorneys at Johnson Law, P.C. as soon as possible for a free consultation so that you can learn about the auto accident claims process and what we can do to help.

If you follow the above 10 Steps to Take After an Auto Accident, you will have taken important steps to protect your legal interests in the event you or your loved one’s injuries turn out to be serious or catastrophic. Keep in mind that every auto accident presents unique challenges, which is why it is vital to consult with an experienced auto accident attorney as soon as possible after the crash.

Many people injured in auto accidents believe that the insurance companies will work things out with minimal involvement or effort. This may be true with auto collisions resulting in only property damage. However, in car crashes resulting in injury, whether it be a minor injury or a catastrophic injury, you need to take immediately action, including consulting with an attorney to understand your legal rights and remedies.

More than 2 million people are injured every year in the U.S as a result of auto accidents. In Washington, there are more than 117,000 auto accidents resulting in close to 50,000 injuries every year. Approximately 500 of these crashes unfortunately result in death. 2,000 result in serious injury, which includes broken bones, severe lacerations, skull or chest injuries, or injuries which prevent you from walking. 47,000 injuries are classified as minor injuries, which includes broken toes or fingers, abrasions, momentary unconsciousness, and complaints of other pain. That leaves 78,000 other crashes, which the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) classifies as “no injury”. However, this doesn’t mean people were not injured: WSDOT defines a “no injury crash” as one where there appears to be no injury at the scene of the collision.

The auto accident attorneys at Johnson Law, P.C. offer free consultations, so please do not delay. Contact Johnson Law today for a free consultation regarding your auto accident bodily injury claim. Remember, we guarantee that if we do not recover compensation for you, you will not pay our attorney fee.

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