What To Do After a Car Accident in Alabama

After a car accident in Dothan, you should take the following steps: * Check for injuries - The first thing you should do at the crash scene is to check yourself for injuries. If you are carrying passengers, you should check to see if your passengers were harmed. Then check to see if other motorists need aid. * Call 911 and report injuries - Call law enforcement and provide the exact location of the accident and tell the dispatcher whether the road is blocked. Request an ambulance for each injured person. If the accident is not severe, you should still report the accident to your local law enforcement. The police or highway patrol will produce a report that includes information about the crash, including driver info, witness contact information, a description of the damage to each vehicle, your injuries, and an initial determination of fault. * Exchange driver information – Provide your name, address, registration number, and driver’s license information to others involved. Be sure to get the other driver’s license, registration, and insurance information. If the other driver refuses to share information, wait for the police to arrive. The officer will get the information and share it with everyone. * Take pictures and videos of the accident scene - If you can do it safely, take photos and videos of your injuries, the damage to the vehicles, and the accident scene as a whole from different angles. These photos may be useful evidence to support your injury claim. * Write down information about the accident - You should write down details you remember from the accident as soon as possible. Which direction was the driver who hit you going? Was the driver speeding? Was the other driver paying attention at the time of the accident? Make notes about the time, location, and weather conditions as well. * Gather witness information - If any bystanders witnessed the accident, you should ask them for their contact information. Witnesses can bolster your case by providing an objective view of how a crash occurred. Your attorney may contact bystanders later to get a statement from them. * Do not admit fault or accept blame - Many people instinctively apologize after an accident, even if they were not at fault. Don’t say “I’m sorry” to the other driver or admit blame to an insurance adjuster. The other driver’s insurer may use anything you say against you to try to reduce or deny your injury claim. * Do not speak with anyone other than the police regarding the accident - Don’t talk about the accident with the others involved while waiting for the police to arrive. Cooperate with the police and answer their questions. Don’t post comments about the accident on social media. An insurance company may use anything you say publicly to call into question the seriousness of your injuries or to blame you for the accident. * Seek medical attention - You should seek a medical evaluation as soon as possible after the accident, even if you don’t believe that you were seriously injured. Some injuries such as concussions may not be immediately apparent. If you fail to get medical attention and then develop symptoms, the insurance company may argue that your injuries resulted from a different incident. * Notify your insurance agency of the accident - You need to report the accident to your insurance agency. Provide the name of the other driver involved and their insurance information. Obtain a copy of the report - You will need to get a copy of the police report as part of the claims process. The police report is an important piece of evidence that insurance adjusters will review when evaluating your claim. * Contact our experienced car accident attorney - You should contact a skilled Alabama car accident lawyer to review the accident and discuss your legal options. If you were injured by another driver’s negligence, then an experienced Dothan personal injury lawyer can deal with the insurers on your behalf and help you pursue a claim. Gartlan Injury Law can handle every aspect of your claim so that you can focus on getting your life back on track.

What to Do After an Accident in Alabama

by Aaron Gartlan

February 14, 2022 | Auto Accidents

Have you been injured in a car accident in Alabama? The aftermath of a car crash can be a confusing and frightening time, especially if the accident involved serious injuries. If someone else’s negligence or disregard for safety caused your injuries, you may be entitled to seek compensation.

You are required to stop at the accident scene if you are involved in a collision and provide aid to anyone who is injured. It’s important to take the proper steps to protect your legal rights and avoid saying anything that could undermine your injury claim.

Below, we will review the important steps to take and discuss how an experienced injury attorney could help you seek full and fair compensation. If you have questions about whether you are eligible to claim compensation after a car accident in Dothan or elsewhere in south Alabama, contact attorney Aaron Gartlan at the law firm of Gartlan Injury Law to discuss your rights.

What Should You Do After a Car Accident in Alabama?

After a car accident in Dothan, you should take the following steps:

Check for injuries – The first thing you should do at the crash scene is to check yourself for injuries. If you are carrying passengers, you should check to see if your passengers were harmed. Then check to see if other motorists need aid.
Call 911 and report injuries – Call law enforcement and provide the exact location of the accident and tell the dispatcher whether the road is blocked. Request an ambulance for each injured person. If the accident is not severe, you should still report the accident to your local law enforcement. The police or highway patrol will produce a report that includes information about the crash, including driver info, witness contact information, a description of the damage to each vehicle, your injuries, and an initial determination of fault.
Exchange driver information – Provide your name, address, registration number, and driver’s license information to others involved. Be sure to get the other driver’s license, registration, and insurance information. If the other driver refuses to share information, wait for the police to arrive. The officer will get the information and share it with everyone.
Take pictures and videos of the accident scene – If you can do it safely, take photos and videos of your injuries, the damage to the vehicles, and the accident scene as a whole from different angles. These photos may be useful evidence to support your injury claim.
Write down information about the accident – You should write down details you remember from the accident as soon as possible. Which direction was the driver who hit you going? Was the driver speeding? Was the other driver paying attention at the time of the accident? Make notes about the time, location, and weather conditions as well.
Gather witness information – If any bystanders witnessed the accident, you should ask them for their contact information. Witnesses can bolster your case by providing an objective view of how a crash occurred. Your attorney may contact bystanders later to get a statement from them.
Do not admit fault or accept blame – Many people instinctively apologize after an accident, even if they were not at fault. Don’t say “I’m sorry” to the other driver or admit blame to an insurance adjuster. The other driver’s insurer may use anything you say against you to try to reduce or deny your injury claim.
Do not speak with anyone other than the police regarding the accident – Don’t talk about the accident with the others involved while waiting for the police to arrive. Cooperate with the police and answer their questions. Don’t post comments about the accident on social media. An insurance company may use anything you say publicly to call into question the seriousness of your injuries or to blame you for the accident.
Seek medical attention – You should seek a medical evaluation as soon as possible after the accident, even if you don’t believe that you were seriously injured. Some injuries such as concussions may not be immediately apparent. If you fail to get medical attention and then develop symptoms, the insurance company may argue that your injuries resulted from a different incident.
Notify your insurance agency of the accident – You need to report the accident to your insurance agency. Provide the name of the other driver involved and their insurance information.
Obtain a copy of the report – You will need to get a copy of the police report as part of the claims process. The police report is an important piece of evidence that insurance adjusters will review when evaluating your claim.
Contact our experienced car accident attorney – You should contact a skilled Alabama car accident lawyer to review the accident and discuss your legal options. If you were injured by another driver’s negligence, then an experienced Dothan personal injury lawyer can deal with the insurers on your behalf and help you pursue a claim. Gartlan Injury Law can handle every aspect of your claim so that you can focus on getting your life back on track.

What Compensation Is Available for Alabama Car Accident Injuries?

If you were seriously injured in a car accident, you may be eligible to seek compensation for expenses and losses you suffered if someone else’s negligence caused your crash. Alabama uses a contributory negligence standard when assessing eligibility for compensation in personal injury cases. That means that you cannot recover compensation if you were found to be partly at fault for your accident. It’s important to work with an experienced attorney who knows how to respond to attempts by insurance companies to shift the blame for an accident.

If you can show that your actions did not contribute to the collision, you may seek compensation for:

Medical expenses
Lost income, if you cannot work while you recover
Lost earning capacity, if your injuries leave you disabled and you can no longer work
Vehicle repairs and replacement
Pain and suffering

How Can an Accident Attorney in Alabama Help You?

Car Accident Lawyer In Alabama - Gartlan Injury Law Dealing with the insurance claims process can be challenging, especially if you are recovering from serious injuries. You’ll be at a disadvantage dealing with another driver’s insurance company on your own after an accident.

Gartlan Injury Law has the resources to investigate the accident, gather evidence to support your claim, determine liability, and aggressively negotiate a settlement on your behalf. A knowledgeable injury lawyer can stand up for your rights and prevent an insurance company from taking advantage of you.

Contact Gartlan Injury Law today for a free case review.

Visit our Car Accident Injury Law Offices

Aaron Gartlan

Aaron Gartlan is a graduate of Troy University and the Thomas Goode Jones School of Law who focuses his practice exclusively on representing those injured by the wrongdoing of others. He is member of the National Trial Lawyers Association’s Top 100 Trial Lawyers, Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. In addition to his legal practice, Aaron teaches Business Law as an adjunct instructor at Troy University’s Sorrell College of Business and serves as a field artillery sergeant in the Alabama National Guard.