When you are out on the road, for sure you wouldn’t want to be involved in an unfortunate road accident that is not only devastating but can also be quite inconvenient. However, there are instances wherein road accidents happen no matter how hard you try to avoid them. This article lists down some of the things that you need to do when you get involved in an accident around Boston.
Make sure everyone is safe
One of the primary things that you need to do when you get involved in an accident in Boston is to make sure that everyone is safe. In case the accident is considered minor, the law in Massachusetts states that you need to stop at the scene. When the accident leads to serious injuries or damage to physical properties, and you did not stop and provide your information, you can be held liable for criminal charges. Fleeing the scene can also result in fines and imprisonment.
You should also see to it that the other people involved in the mishap are safe, or in case they are injured, you need to get help immediately. Make sure not to move anyone suffering from neck or back pain before the emergency responders arrive on the scene because you may worsen their injuries if you move them incorrectly. You should also take the time to check your own injuries before attempting to help other people who suffered in the same accident.
Call the authorities
Another one of the first things that you need to do in the event of an unfortunate road accident is to call the authorities. It is a law in Massachusetts to have an accident reported immediately particularly if it leads to serious injuries or death, or if the damages are estimated to be more than a thousand dollars. The latter can be quite challenging to assess, which is why you should call the police regardless of how insignificant the mishap may seem. They will be the ones in the best position to investigate the scene and assess the total value of the damages.
Apart from calling the authorities and ensuring that everyone involved in the mishap is attended to, you may also be wondering about the next steps that you need to do. In this case, you may find yourself asking the question “Should I contact a Boston auto accident lawyer?” and the simple answer to this is yes, particularly if it is quite unclear who is responsible for the accident. You should also see to it that you call your insurance provider immediately for them to know the details of your accident. Failure to do so may lead to difficulties in filing a claim later on.
Exchange information
While waiting for the authorities to arrive, you should also take the time to exchange information with the other people involved in the accident. According to the law implemented in Boston, all drivers should have auto insurance coverage. Ask the other driver whether he or she is covered by this, along with other information such as their name and contact information, as well as their driver’s license and license plate number.
When the police arrive, make sure that you cooperate with them by answering any questions they may have about the accident. As much as possible, avoid making any negative comments and reactions, particularly concerning the other party involved in the road mishap. Just be honest about what happened because everything will be reflected in the police report, later on, even your actions will be recorded. The police report will serve as a piece of important evidence that can support your claim later on so make sure to ask for a copy of the report too.
Gather evidence
If you are not seriously injured in the accident, you should also take the time to gather pieces of evidence that can help you later on, such as photos of the scene. The reason behind this is that as soon as they clear up the accident, any piece of vital evidence that can help establish your claim, later on, will also be removed. Using your smartphone, take photos not only of the crash scene but the location as well as other details surrounding the site too. In this way, you will be able to provide an accurate detail of the placement of the vehicles and even the weather conditions.
Seek medical attention
Even if you feel fine, make sure that you seek medical attention following an accident. Keep in mind that there are instances wherein the onset of injuries doesn’t happen immediately. For this reason, no matter how insignificant your injuries are, or even if you deem that you are not injured at all, you should go and see a doctor.
Your health care insurance provider will be primarily responsible for the charges that you will incur during your initial treatment. Nevertheless, as you move further along, you may entail the need to continue with your treatment because your injuries from the accident already manifested. In this case, you may be eligible for a personal injury claim against the insurance provider of the other driver if he or she is deemed responsible for the accident. For this reason, make sure that you compile and collate all your medical records to support your claim.
When you find yourself involved in a car accident around Boston, or any other area for that matter, the first thing that you should do is to ensure that everyone who got into the mishap is safe. You should also call the authorities immediately and exchange information with the other people caught up in the accident. If you can, try to gather evidence such as photos of the scene because this can help you support your claim later on. Never forget to seek medical attention even if you feel perfectly fine. All these are geared towards ensuring that not only will you be able to handle the accident appropriately, but you will also get the chance to maximize your claim later on.