Following a serious car crash, what steps can you take to protect yourself and your family from the worst of the aftermath? There are several things you should do after a crash, including:
1. Call the police. Serious accidents usually require a law enforcement response. Call 9-1-1 so that emergency medical personnel can help anyone who needs it and so that police officers can file an official report of what happened.
2. Seek medical attention. While 9-1-1 should of course be called for anyone with serious or life-threatening injuries, it’s also important to seek medical attention even if you don’t think you were badly injured. Some injuries do not show immediate symptoms, but they may instead become apparent in the days and weeks following. A doctor can often diagnose these injuries before they fully affect you, allowing you to get the treatment you need when you need it.
3. Call our lawyers. Our lawyers can tell you whether you have a claim to make and what your options are. We know you want to maximize any compensation you get for your injuries, and we can help you decide if a claim handled by our lawyers is the right way to do so.
4. Report the accident to ICBC. Any car crash must be reported to ICBC or whichever insurance company you use. When you call or go online to report the accident, remember to give them all the facts of which you are aware. You do not, however, need to assign blame or fault. If you say or accidentally imply it was your fault, doing so may affect your claim for compensation.
Interested in finding out if you have a car accident claim that can be handled by our experienced lawyers in Vancouver, British Columbia? If so, please call Stephens & Holman at 604-730-4120. Your claim evaluation is completely free and we work on a contingent fee basis, so you don’t pay us anything upfront. We get paid from a percentage of any compensation award won on your behalf.