Dos and Donts after a Maine Car Accident

If you live in Maine and you have been in a car accident, there are a number of steps you can take to ensure your safety and preserve the scene. When you have been hurt in an accident, getting medical help is your first priority. If you are medically stable, call the authorities to respond to the scene as soon as you can. Once help is on the way, you can begin assessing the situation so that you can report accurately what just happened.

What to Do After You’ve Been in a Maine Car Accident

In order to begin documenting the car accident, start by taking out your cell phone and taking some pictures of the scene. While you only want to take pictures if it is safe to do so, taking pictures is an excellent way to provide proof as to what happened to cause the accident. Find a pen and paper, and begin collecting information. If you’ve been in a car accident in Maine, you should also:

Write down the license plates of all vehicles that were involved in the accident.
Ask for the names, car insurance information and addresses of all people who were part of the accident.
Look for witnesses and write down their names and contact information, including their phone numbers.
Contact your car insurance company to report the accident.
As you take pictures, document any property damage, the weather conditions, and take pictures from a variety of angles.
Follow through with all medical appointments for the treatment of your injuries. As you heal, take pictures of your healing process.
Seek the advice of an attorney if medical bills are piling up.
Keep a file for all of your medical records, accident reports, bills and more that relate to the car accident.

What You Shouldn’t Do After a Maine Car Accident

Getting into a car accident can be traumatizing, and some people are quick to leave the scene out of fear or confusion. Although this may feel like a natural reaction to the stress of a car accident, you should try to stay at the scene. Other things to avoid after getting into a car accident in Maine include:

Don’t move your vehicle after you have been in an accident, unless you absolutely have to.
Don’t risk further injury by standing or waiting in traffic. Keep yourself safe.
Don’t destroy or throw away any potential evidence such as ruined clothing, broken ey
e glasses or pieces of car that fell off.
Don’t stay in danger to make a call for help. Get yourself in a safe location first.
Don’t talk about who might be at fault for the accident, and consider speaking to an attorney before discussing any settlement options.

When to Call a Maine Car Accident Attorney

When a car accident occurs and you have been injured, there are different deadlines for bringing a personal injury lawsuit in Maine depending on the circumstances of the accident. It’s important to understand the deadlines that apply in your particular circumstances. It’s also important to meet with an attorney for an initial consultation when the accident is fresh in your mind. Over time, you will forget details of the accident. When you go to your consultation, bring any documents you have such as medical records, bills, letters from insurance companies, accident reports and anything else pertaining to the accident.

If you have medical bills piling up and you are losing wages because of your injuries, it may be time to consult with a personal injury law firm like Fales & Fales to seek the compensation you are entitled to.