The last thing you anticipated when you woke up this morning was being involved in a car accident. Yet here you are. Keep your head about you and take some basic steps to ensure that you are both physically and legally covered after an accident.
Have You Been Injured?
The most important thing to determine is if you or anyone else has been injured. If so, you will want to call for medical emergency attention immediately. If there is no injury, you will want to get to a place where you are not at risk of being hit by a vehicle when standing by your car on a roadway.
Exchange Information
Each driver involved in a motor vehicle accident is required to provide information such as contact information, driver’s license number, and insurance information. You will want to make note of all vehicle’s make, model types, and license plate numbers. If any of the other drivers refuse to give you information, just jot down what you can. You will want to also jot down a description of the driver and even take a photo. Taking photos of the accident scene may also be helpful.
Get Witness Information
If there were any witnesses to the accident other than the drivers, get their contact information as well.
Report the Accident
You can either report the accident at the local collision centre or if you think there is over $2,000 worth of combined damage, you should call the police. If you suspect one of the other drivers is impaired, you should also call the police.
Even if you don’t think you have been injured, many injury symptoms don’t immediately surface. You should make an appointment and report the accident to your physician along with any symptoms you may be experiencing.
Report the accident to ICBC as soon as possible, ideally within 48 hours. It is always in your best interest to at least get the advice of a Delta personal injury lawyer. This way you can understand your legal rights. A lawyer is very instrumental in getting a fair compensation for injuries or damages and can also assist in filing paperwork.
Make Notes
While everything is fresh in your mind, make notes about the accident including the date and time, the location, and road and weather conditions. Write down the other vehicles involved and whether there were any injuries. And be sure to note where all the vehicles were before and after the accident and what vehicle damage there was. Note who you talked to and what was said.
Seek Legal Advice
ICBC will make a determination who was a fault. Determining who was at fault is not always easy and you may disagree with their determination. Depending on who was at fault and what damages were sustained, you may be entitled to compensation in a tort claim. A Delta injury lawyer familiar with ICBC will assist you with any benefits. Most lawyers offer complimentary consultations and work on a contingency fee basis. You will not owe legal fees unless you are awarded compensation.