What to Do Immediately After a Car Accident

This video features Kathleen M. Reilly, a Personal Injury attorney based in New Jersey.

Attorney Kathleen M. Reilly | 888-981-0027 | Free Consult

Do you know what to do immediately after a car accident?

Kathleen M. Reilly is a personal injury attorney based in Kearny, New Jersey with over 30 years of experience. She is the managing partner of Brady Brady & Reilly, LLC. In this Quick Question, she explains that taking care of your health, documenting the scene, and contacting a lawyer are all crucial steps following a collision.

To learn more, contact the attorney directly by calling 888-981-0027 or by submitting a contact form on this page. The consultation is free and confidential, and you owe no out-of-pocket attorney fees.

Seek medical attention.

Immediately after a collision with another vehicle, it is important to seek medical attention. Move to a safe place and make sure you and those with you are okay. Even if you do not feel injured at first, it’s still important to see a doctor regarding any potential injuries you might have sustained in the accident. Some injuries may not be felt for days or even weeks after an accident, and waiting to seek medical care could negatively impact your case if you choose to pursue legal recourse in the future. Additionally, seeking medical attention can ensure that an official record exists to prove the presence and severity of the injury.

Collect evidence.

After making sure that you and those with you are reasonably safe, it’s a good idea to begin collecting evidence at the scene. While law enforcement may do so as well, it’s important to make sure you have your own copies of the evidence at hand. Reilly recommends that people take pictures of all the vehicles involved, license plates involved, and collect the contact information of any other drivers involved or witnesses to the scene. This can later help you, your insurance company, and legal team confirm who was involved in the accident and if any witness testimonies may be available to corroborate how the accident occurred.

If you are unable to collect this evidence due to your injuries, a family member, friend, or even an attorney can do so on your behalf. It is important to note that evidence will immediately begin disappearing after an accident, so it is important to have someone at the scene collecting evidence as soon as possible after the collision.

Seek legal counsel.

Before deciding how to handle a situation like this, it’s a good idea to seek legal counsel from an experienced car accident attorney. In fact, it might be wise to refrain from speaking with your insurance company until you have a chance to talk to an attorney. Car accident attorneys are well-versed in dealing with insurance companies, other drivers, and the other elements of a car accident case that can complicate a victim’s recovery. If you or a loved one suffered a car accident, contact an attorney to learn what they can do to protect you and your family from further damage. It may help to note that most of the attorneys that handle these cases work on a contingency fee basis; this means you will not be required to pay for their services unless/until they win your case.

To learn more, contact Kathleen M. Reilly directly by calling 888-981-0027 or by submitting a contact form on this page. The consultation is free and confidential, and you owe no out-of-pocket attorney fees.

Video Transcript:

Christine Haas:

Here's a Quick Question from AskTheLawyers.com. Do you know what you should do right after you've been in a car crash? New Jersey Attorney Kathleen Reilly has this advice.

Kathleen Reilly:

Well, make sure you're okay. Depending on the circumstances surrounding the accident, I often recommend people to take pictures of the vehicles involved, the license plates involved, and the drivers involved, so that you're later able to confirm who was involved. Then it's my best advice to seek the opinion of a lawyer, so that you know what your rights are, what type of medical treatment you're entitled to and what you need to do.

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