What to Do if You’re in a Car Accident in Knoxville TN
Every day in the US, there are over 16,000 car accidents reported. Car accidents can happen to anyone and range from minor to life threatening. If you’re in a car accident, it is important to know the right steps to take in order to ensure that your physical health and your potential personal injury claim are both protected. Here is what to do if you’re in a car accident in Knoxville TN:
1. Check Yourself and Your Passengers for Injuries
We know the initial shock of a car accident can be very scary and overwhelming. When your body is surging with adrenaline right after a crash, it is easy to shrug off the pain and think that you were just “shaken up”. However, it is important to remain calm and check on the wellbeing of yourself and others in your car. If anyone is seriously injured, try your best not to move, in order to prevent further injury. If everyone seems ok at the moment, then collect yourself and your essential items and get to safety.
2. Call 911 and Wait For Assistance
As soon as you have completed assessing everyone’s injuries, call 911 and wait for law enforcement and medical professionals to arrive. Whether you’re in a minor fender-bender or major collision, it is essential to call the police. The responding officers will fill out an accident report that may prove to be crucial to you making a successful claim later, so it is important that you insist on having one completed and obtain the report number, so that you can obtain a copy later.
3. Document Your Accident
In order to protect yourself, we recommend taking steps to document the accident. After calling 911 and asking for an officer to be sent to the scene, use your cell phone or other camera to take pictures of the accident scene and the damage to all vehicles involved. If there appear to be any witnesses to the crash who were not involved in the crash, then ask if they are willing to provide you with their name and contact information. Do not rely on the responding officer to obtain the information of non-involved persons, as they often fail to do so. When you’re in a car accident in Knoxville TN, you need to collect all your information first hand, in case it’s needed later.
4. Call Your Insurer
If possible, call your insurer from the scene, so they can tell you exactly what you need to do to start processing your claim. Contacting your insurer will also help document the accident and can be reviewed later if needed. Make sure to be as detailed as possible when giving information about the crash to your insurer so they can take all the necessary next steps. If you’re in a car accident in Knoxville TN, your insurer needs to be one of the first to know.
5. Contact Your Lawyer
You’ll want to contact your lawyer as soon as possible after your car accident. Our lawyers will be able to help you handle this stressful situation with ease. Knoxville car accident lawyers are all experienced and will use their expertise to ensure your rights are protected. Car accidents can be terrifying, but the aftermath doesn’t have to be when you have a great team of lawyers working for you!
Car accidents are extremely common and can happen to anyone, so make sure you have a good team supporting you! Now you will know what to do if you’re in a car accident in Knoxville TN! If you’ve recently been in a car accident, contact our Knoxville car accident lawyers and let us help you today!
