If you have recently been in a car accident, and you are seeking legal advice about your specific situation, we encourage you to contact our office for a free and confidential consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer.

Kinner and Patton has decades of experience in providing high quality and successful legal representation to injured people throughout Eastern Kentucky.

As a service to our community, here is some general advice on actions to take – and not take – after a car accident.

Call the Police

As soon as possible after an accident, call the police to report the accident.  If you are not able to make the call yourself, ask someone else to make the call for you.  In a safe location, wait for the police to arrive.

Do Not Talk About Fault With the Other Driver

If you are able, you should get contact information and insurance policy numbers from every other person involved in the accident.  Get this information about passengers as well as drivers.  Do not, however, make statements to the other driver about whether you were at fault in the accident.

Listen to the Other Driver’s Statements, and Talk to Witnesses

If you are able, if the other driver wants to talk about how the accident occurred, listen carefully and try to remember his or her exact words.  If you can identify any witnesses to the accident, try to obtain, or ask someone else to obtain, contact information from those people – and ask them to describe what they saw.

Do Not Move Your Car

Wait until the police arrive to move your car, unless its location creates a dangerous situation for yourself or other drivers.

Take Pictures

These days, most cellphones have cameras.  If you are able and before you or the other drivers move their cars, take as many pictures as possible with your cellphone camera.  Take photographs of the cars involved, where each vehicle came to rest, the weather conditions and any relevant road signs or traffic signals.  Photographs can speak a thousand words and can be crucial evidence should fault be at question in the accident.

Get Medical Care

Do not refuse medical treatment and make sure to obtain and thorough medical examination after the accident.  After a car accident, this is not the time to minimize your injuries.  You should clearly describe all your injuries to your doctor.  Follow your doctor’s orders, including any follow-up visits. If you experience new symptoms days – or even weeks – after the accident, seek additional medical attention.

Contact a Lawyer

Insurance companies often try to reach quick settlements with persons shortly after the accident in exchange for you to sign a release of all claims.  You should refrain from settling with an insurance company without first consulting an experienced personal injury lawyer who will serve as your advocate and counsel you on the merits of your case.  Your attorneys’ job is to investigate and review all available evidence – including accident reports and medical records – to make sure you obtain complete and fair compensation for your injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering.