Steps to Take After a Traffic Accident in the Busy Charleston, SC Area

Traffic accidents impact millions of lives each year. Being in a car accident is almost always overwhelming, but especially so when congestion is a factor. Knowing what steps to take after a traffic accident is crucial to being prepared in the event of a crash.

Taking appropriate steps can mean the difference between prolonged negotiations and streamlining your claim. In this blog, our car accident lawyers discuss what steps you should take to protect your health, financial future, and legal rights.

Pull Over to a Safe Location

An accident at a busy intersection, parking lot, city, or congested suburb is not uncommon, especially in areas with dense populations and constant rush-hour traffic. After an accident, you should assess whether your vehicle can be moved safely. If so, you should promptly move to the side of the road, out of the way of traffic. If your vehicle cannot be moved safely, turn on your hazard lights and call the police right away for further instructions. Failing to move your car can lead to a secondary collision, further complicating matters.

Call 911

If you, any of your passengers, or anyone in another vehicle has been injured, your first call should be to 911. When speaking with medical personnel, be clear on what happened and provide a summary of potential injuries. Being clear and concise will allow the paramedics dispatched to the scene to address any injuries immediately. If there are any downed power lines or if any of the involved vehicles have a fuel leak, notify emergency services before they arrive.

Gather Information

Gathering information about the other driver (s), their insurance, and vehicle damage can be tedious. Given the prevalence of cell phones, it makes sense to take a photo rather than write down this information. Following your accident, take photos of all vehicles involved, including a close-up of each license plate. Also, take note of the make, model, and year of each vehicle. To ensure no issues in filing your claim, ask the other driver to provide proof of insurance. Most insurance companies have transitioned to mobile apps that display the policyholder’s name and policy number.

Contact the Police

In South Carolina, you must call the police following a crash that results in any injuries, fatalities, or more than $1,000 in vehicle damage. If the other vehicle drove away following the accident, make that clear to the police department. The officer responding to the scene will record the names and contact details of all drivers and passengers, a description of any vehicles involved in the crash, road and weather conditions, and other relevant details.

Based on this information, the officers might conclude who they believe is responsible for the accident. This police report will be requested by the insurance company when you submit your claim, and it is useful in providing key information concerning the accident.

Collect Evidence

Any information you can provide about the collision will help determine liability. You will want to take pictures of the accident scene, including vehicle debris, the final resting position of the vehicles, and your injuries. Be sure to take close-ups and wide-angle shots. Keep in mind that different lighting can highlight different elements, so taking photos with and without flash will help you capture a range of details. Also, take photos of nearby intersections or landmarks, as these can help verify the incident location.

Contact a Charleston Car Accident Lawyer

Proving fault in a crash requires knowledge of the law and the ability to gather relevant, convincing evidence. A car accident lawyer has experience in doing all of this, especially interpreting evidence to establish the other party’s liability. The insurance company is quick to deny fault to pad its bottom line. Our legal team is well aware of this.

That is why we act quickly after a crash, moving negotiations forward to determine what the insurance company is prepared to offer you. At Mark C. Tanenbaum, we are not afraid to advocate aggressively for our clients, even taking their case to court.

Aggressive Representation from Our Charleston Car Accident Lawyers

A car accident can have long-term consequences that can impact your legal and financial security. If you or a family member has recently fallen victim to a crash, our Charleston car accident lawyers understand the aggravation that you are likely experiencing.

Our team of professionals understands the games insurance companies play, but we are not intimidated by their tactics. If you are ready to discover the true worth of your accident case, our firm is more than happy to assist you. To schedule your free consultation to speak with an attorney, contact Mark C. Tanenbaum online or call (843) 577-5100.