Steps to Take After a Car Accident in Boston
Car accidents can be stressful and traumatic for victims. It can be very difficult to keep your composure in the aftermath of a crash. Many victims question how to proceed after an accident.
There are certain steps you should take that will protect your ability to recover compensation related to an accident. Victims should remain at the scene, collect information from other drivers, and document the scene of their crashes if possible. Afterwards, a Reading, MA car accident lawyer can help seek medical treatment and pursue compensation.
If you were injured because of a car accident in Boston, get help determining the proper course of action. Contact our experienced Boston car accident lawyers by calling the Law Office of John J. Sheehan at (617) 925-6407 for a free case review.
Steps to Take After a Car Accident in Boston
There are specific actions you can take in the aftermath of an accident that will help your ability to recover payment for injuries caused by the crash. Each of the following actions serves to protect your interests when pursuing compensation:
Stay at the Scene
You should not leave the scene of an accident. Victims who flee the scene of a crash may be prohibited from recovering payment for their medical bills. Furthermore, those who flee the scene of an accident can be charged with a hit and run. After a crash, you should find a safe space to remain near the scene until a police officer arrives.
Call 911
You should always call 911 after an accident. By calling 911 a police officer may visit the scene to draft an accident report. An officer’s accident report can help indicate why a crash occurred by detailing the officer’s observations from the scene and providing statements from drivers.
An accident report may be required for you to file a claim with your own insurer after an accident. Furthermore, an officer’s report can help our Wakefield car accident lawyers when building your lawsuit. Accordingly, calling 911 after an accident is crucial in order to recover monetary damages.
Exchange Contact Information with Other Parties
Next, you should exchange contact information with other parties to your accident. Contact information includes names, phone numbers, and addresses. Additionally, you should retrieve the license plate number and insurance information of any other drivers involved in your crash. Collecting the aforementioned information will greatly assist you when filing an insurance claim or car accident lawsuit seeking payment for your medical bills.
Additionally, you should avoid apologizing when conversing with other parties to your accident. It can feel natural to say sorry after a car crash, even if it was not your fault. However, apologies can be construed as admissions of guilt. By admitting guilt, you may hurt your chances of recovering financial compensation at trial.
Document the Scene of the Accident
You should also take photos and videos of the accident scene if possible. If you file a car accident lawsuit in order to recover payment for your medical bills, photos from the accident scene may be crucial when proving another driver was at-fault. For instance, photos from an accident scene can be used to disprove a defendant driver’s assertion that a crash was caused by poor road conditions. You can contact our Cambridge car accident lawyers for help evaluating whether photos from the scene will be valuable when seeking payment in your case.
Collect Contact Information for Any Potential Witnesses
You should also collect contact information for any witnesses to your accident. Establishing fault for your crash is required to collect payment for medical bills through a car accident lawsuit. Eyewitness can help explain the events that led to a crash. Accordingly, eyewitness testimony can be highly valuable when proving fault and recovering compensation in your case.
Seek Medical Attention for Your Injuries
Proper documentation of your injuries is required in order to recover compensation through a lawsuit or an insurance claim. You must show that you were injured because of an accident in order to recover compensation. Accordingly, you should not wait for injuries to heal on their own.
Furthermore, insurance companies may use a delay in medical treatment to assert that your injuries were not caused by the crash at issue. By seeking treatment immediately, you can more easily establish a connection between the accident and your injury. Our Somerville car accident lawyers can help refer the right physicians in your case.
Report Your Accident
In Boston, according to M.G.L. Chapter 90 § 26, victims must fill out a Motor Vehicle Crash Operator Report form and send it to the Boston Registry of Motor Vehicles within five days if they are involved in an accident that causes either of the following:
- Injury or death
- Damage to property that exceeds $1,000
Furthermore, the accident report must also be sent to the police station where your crash occurred. Victims who do not fill out the required report may be prohibited from recovering payment for their injuries.
A large amount of detailed information regarding the circumstances of your accident must be provided when reporting your crash. Our team can offer assistance when filling out your accident report.
Contact Our Experienced Boston Car Accident Lawyers
Finally, victims should contact our Salem car accident lawyers for help recovering payment for their medical bills after an accident. Our team can help victims determine if they may file a claim with their own insurer or file a lawsuit against an at-fault driver after an accident. Furthermore, out lawyers can offer guidance and support throughout each stage of the process. Accordingly, the assistance of our lawyers can be highly beneficial when seeking monetary damages after an accident in Boston.
If You Were Injured Because of a Car Accident in Boston, Our Lawyers Can Help
If you were injured because of a car accident, seek assistance from our experienced Quincy car accident lawyers by calling the Law Office of John J. Sheehan at (617) 925-6407 for a free case review.