Getting into a car accident is, unfortunately, an all-too-common occurrence. According to the Association for Safe International Road Travel, approximately 6 million car accidents occur every year in the US–that’s more than 16,000 accidents per day!
Auto accidents not only lead to physical pain and injury, but they also cause mental anguish and plenty of aggravation. If you’ve never been in an auto accident, consider yourself extremely fortunate and keep up your safe driving. However, if you have been a victim of a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may have several questions. We’ll answer them right here.
What To Do After a Car Accident in DC
- Do Try to Stay Calm: This is especially important if there are injuries. You can’t help those who are hurt if you’re frazzled and out of control. Take a deep breath, make sure you’re in a safe place, and call 9-1-1 for help if anyone is injured.
- Do Help Yourself Too: If you are injured, seek help immediately. And keep in mind, too many people dismiss seemingly minor injuries like a stiff neck or sore back, but these injuries could be a sign of more serious problems. For example, whiplash or a concussion may not display symptoms immediately. Your best bet: seek medical attention as soon as possible if you have a seemingly minor symptom, like stiffness or soreness. It may not be a bad idea to get to the hospital via ambulance if you’re hurt, but if you forego that option, promptly get yourself to the ER. Not only will your health now be a priority, but the insurance adjusters also look at how long you took to seek medical treatment when determining a settlement offer. By taking an ambulance, you will ensure that a police report will be written. Absent a citation to any participant in a crash, a police report will not be issued unless an ambulance transports someone from the crash scene.
- Do Talk to A Personal Injury Lawyer: Any reputable Personal Injury Attorney will provide you with a free, no-obligation consultation to review your case. If they require payment upfront, consider choosing another attorney. Most Personal Injury Lawyers are compensated with a percentage of your settlement amount. Here at The Lapidus Law Firm, we have four decades of experience working with people injured in car accidents. We can help you, too.
How a Car Accident Attorney Will Help
Even with a police report, the cold truth is that personal injury claims are not always straightforward. It is in the injured party’s best interests to contact a car accident attorney for legal support and guidance. While the police report can name an at-fault party, it is still usually the insurance company’s #1 priority to pay out as little as possible to protect their financial interests.
Suppose you have been injured in a car accident. In that case, a car accident attorney will communicate with the insurance company and the responsible party where necessary to work toward a fair, reasonable settlement. This allows the injured to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and physical therapy treatments. The right attorney knows how important it is that you focus your energy on your physical and mental recovery, so here at The Lapidus Law Firm, we take pride in helping you with all the legalities surrounding your claim.
Auto Accident Attorney in Washington, DC & Metro Area
If you happen to be involved in an auto accident in the DC metro area, call the auto accident attorneys at The Lapidus Law Firm at (202) 785-5111 or (301) 852-7500 to set up your free Zoom consultation. We can guarantee to do our very best because we are committed to making justice work for you.
Written by Larry Lapidus