Auto Accident? Attorneys recommend you take these steps if you are ever in an auto accident – even if it seems like a minor accident at the time.

1. Protect the Scene. Move your vehicle to a safe location away from traffic if possible. Make sure your emergency lights are flashing. When it is dark outside, set out emergency flares and cones to warn traffic.
2. Call the Police. You should call the police even if you believe you do not need immediate medical attention. It is important to get an official record of the accident.
3. Avoid Roadside Conversations. Try to avoid any conversations with the people involved in the car accident. Most importantly, do not apologize. A well intentioned apology may be used against you in a law suit.
4. Get a Report Number. When the police arrive, there will be an official report of the accident. You must get the case number and the police officer’s contact information.
5. Make an Accurate Record. Try to calm down before recounting what happened to the police officer. Try to recall as many details as possible when you explain what happened. Additionally, be sure to keep a separate record of what happened for yourself.
6. Take Pictures. Take pictures of the accident scene and the damage to your vehicle. Take pictures of your injuries at the scene and in the subsequent days.
7. Report the Accident to your Insurance Company. Make sure to contact your insurance agent as soon as possible to report the accident.
8. Seek Medical Attention. If you are injured, seek medical attention. If the doctor recommends follow up treatment, follow through with the treatment plan.
9. Record Expenses. Keep a record of all expenses related to the accident. This may include medical expenses, repair costs, tow trucks, and lost employment wages.
10. Keep a Folder. Keep all the records in one folder so they are easily accessible.
11. Contact an Attorney. An attorney will protect your rights. At Sieben & Cotter, we will fight for fair and just compensation for your injuries. Sieben & Cotter have the skills and experience necessary to get you fair and just compensation.

Call Sieben & Cotter at 651-455-1555 to arrange your free and comprehensive consultation, or send a request for more information.

The information in this blog post is provided for general informational purposes only.  No information contained in this post should be construed as legal advice from Sieben & Cotter, PLLC, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal counsel on any subject matter.  No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting on the basis of any information included in, or accessible through, this post without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer licensed in the recipient’s state, country or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction.