Do you know what you should do after a car accident in Louisiana? The steps you take in the minutes following a crash are critical.
Read on to learn what you should do after a Baton Rouge vehicle wreck. We’ve explained the top five steps you should take as soon as your crash occurs.
If you were injured in a collision caused by a negligent motorist, we at Bianca | Matkins can review your legal options for full financial recovery. Call us for a free consultation with a skilled local attorney.
Top 5 Steps To Take After a Baton Rouge Car Crash
Panic sets in at the moment you realize your vehicle has been struck by another car. As the adrenaline surges and your “fight-or-flight” response activates, it can become next to impossible to think rationally about what to do to protect your health and legal rights.
We’ve outlined five simple steps every car crash victim should take in Louisiana. Memorizing these steps can protect your future car accident injury claim—and may just save your life.
1. Take Pictures
There is important evidence right in front of your eyes that will soon be lost forever. Before you move your vehicle or touch anything, take pictures of the accident scene exactly as it is.
The photos you take directly after a collision may be the most important proof you can get to build your claim and substantiate your right to financial recovery.
Most people have a smartphone that can take reasonably (or exceptionally) good photos. If you don’t have a photo-capable mobile device, ask someone nearby to help you get photographic evidence of the crash site.
Don’t worry about taking too many pictures. The more, the better, as one photo may show a small but key detail that other pictures don’t show. Make sure you have numerous shots, taken from multiple angles, that show:
- The position of the vehicles
- How the vehicles collided
- Damage to vehicles
- Whether airbags deployed
- Skid marks, debris, and damage to the road surface, guardrails, or surroundings
- Visible injuries
- Time of day
- Weather, lighting, and traffic conditions
- Nearby traffic signals and street signs
- Anything else that could be relevant to the collision (such as a pothole or crosswalk)
These photos help us put the pieces together to figure out how the wreck occurred and who is at fault. We also sometimes partner with accident reconstruction experts who can use your photos and other evidence to build a video recreation of the crash. This can demonstrate the mechanics of how the collision occurred and what had to happen to cause it.
2. Move Your Vehicle
A lot of people don’t realize that Louisiana law requires you to move your vehicle out of the way of traffic after a collision.
If it’s moveable, your next step after taking pictures should be to move the car promptly to the shoulder or other safe parking area. If your car can’t be moved or it is unsafe to do so, don’t try to move it on your own. You may need to have a tow truck take your vehicle to a garage.
In other situations, you may be injured to the point that it would be painful or harmful to try to get out of the vehicle at all. If this is the case, stay in your car and call 911 right away, or direct a passenger or bystander to call on your behalf.
3. Call the Police and Emergency Medical Services
When you request emergency services, let the dispatcher know if there are any injuries to yourself or another person. Tell them the exact location of the crash with as much detail as possible, using indicators such as the nearest intersection or highway mile marker.
Once a police officer arrives, they will fill out an accident report that details all information related to the crash, including the names of involved drivers, nature of the collision, property damage, injuries, whether there were any traffic citations, and more.
The officer will ask you questions about what happened, and it’s your responsibility to be truthful about what you know. However, don’t make any assumptions about cause or liability. Those determinations can be made once more information becomes available.
Request a copy of the police report, or ask how you can acquire one at a later date. You can use this crash report as evidence when you are filing your accident claim with the at-fault party’s insurance provider.
4. Get Medical Treatment
If you’re injured, get medical treatment at the scene from the ambulance. The emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics on duty may advise that you be transported to the hospital immediately. Always follow the medical advice given to you.
Whether or not you go to the emergency room, don’t neglect follow-up medical care. You may need to visit an urgent care center or schedule an appointment with your own private doctor.
When you call to make your appointment, let them know you were involved in a car accident, exactly what happened, any symptoms you are experiencing, and any information first responders gave you at the scene about your condition.
Do not skip this step. Hidden injuries are often masked by the hormones released in the moment of trauma, so it is vital that you undergo a complete physical exam that rules out the possibility of a concealed injury like a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or internal bleeding.
5. Meet With an Experienced Injury Attorney
Once your physical condition is stable and your medical needs have been met, it’s time to reach out to an auto accident attorney.
An experienced Louisiana accident attorney will know what laws apply to your case, how to determine liability, how many parties are at fault, how to file a claim for financial recovery, and the statute of limitations that limits how long you have to take legal action.
Some law firms, like ours at Bianca | Matkins, provide free case evaluations. This is a great opportunity to discuss what rights you have, given your situation, and what compensation you may be entitled to for medical expenses, property damage, and other damages.
If you were injured in a wreck in Baton Rouge that wasn’t your fault, Bianca | Matkins wants to help.
To schedule a free, no-obligation information session, simply call our office or fill out the online form on our website. We will be in touch shortly to set up an appointment that works for your schedule.
