7 Things to Do If You Get Hurt in a Game Day Car Accident
You’ve finally landed tickets to the big game, be it college football (Air Force Falcons or Buffs, maybe?), NFL (Broncos, perhaps?) or even baseball (a Rockies fan, are ya?). You saved for the tickets, planned logistics with friends, went shopping for the best snacks, threw the food and drinks in a cooler, and hit the road. You had the time of your life bonding with other fans at the game, and your team won.
You couldn’t have been happier as you left the stadium. Nothing could have wiped the smile off your face — until you were hit by a drunk driver on the way home. What should you do? Who should you call? What should you say (or not say)? Here’s a list of seven things you should do after a car accident that’s not your fault, courtesy of the personal injury lawyers at McCormick & Murphy.
- If anyone is injured, call for help immediately. Life and limb should always be first priority.
- If there is significant property damage, your car isn’t drivable or you suspect that the other driver is guilty of a crime, call the police. If you’re not sure if you should call the police, call them anyway.
- Don’t admit fault, offer to pay for damages or sign anything, regardless of the circumstances. Just because you feel guilty doesn’t mean you are. Admitting fault could damage your chances of succeeding in a lawsuit.
- Only discuss the accident with police. Don’t discuss it with the other driver or witnesses. If you need to vent, do so with a friend or family member at a later time.
- Notify your insurance company of the accident as soon as possible. The sooner you call your insurance company, the more accurately you can relay what happened.
- Complete this Car Accident Information Checklist in as much detail as you can. Fill it out as soon as possible, while your memory is fresh. (It’s a good idea to keep a copy of the checklist in your glove box.)
- Take cell phone photos of your car and the accident scene. Email the photos to yourself as backup in case something happens to your phone.
Once the dust has settled and you’re back home safely, consider contacting a personal injury lawyer, sooner rather than later. You may feel decent right now, but that could change tomorrow — or even days, weeks, months or years down the road, if medical issues arise as a result of the accident.
You’ll want, and need, to have financial resources at your disposal so you can take care of yourself — and get back to taking care of your family. Calling a personal injury lawyer may seem dramatic. But in reality it’s the responsible thing to do, especially if you have others depending on you.
For more information on how much your case might be worth, how long your lawsuit might take and related topics, check out our personal injury FAQ here. If you’re in need of a personal injury attorney, give us a call at 1-888-668-1182 or fill out this form for a free case review. We have more than 50 years of legal experience and have recovered millions of dollars for our clients since 1995.
Here’s hoping you never need this information. But if you do, we’re here for you.