Were you recently involved in a rollover accident and unsure of what to do? Are you concerned about how to proceed with your case to get the compensation that you deserve? If so, then you need to learn what to do after a rollover accident.
Learning what to do at the moment can protect both your health and your future case for the incident. Even one step done improperly can lead to complications down the line.
See below for what to do when you’ve been in a rollover accident and aren’t sure what to do next. Be sure to store these away for future use.
1. Focus on Your Health First
First things first, whenever you’re involved in a rollover accident, you want to pay attention to the health of yourself and your passengers (in that order).
Start by collecting your bearings as much as possible. You might go into a state of shock, so just try to focus on deep breathing so that you don’t pass out. Before moving, take a glance at your body to search for any major injuries.
Once you’ve assessed your situation, ask everyone else in the car about their condition and if they’re able to move. Try to safely remove yourself from the car as quickly as possible.
After you and your passengers are safely outside the vehicle, you can go check on the other party. Try not to exert too much energy, as the adrenaline might be covering a significant injury that will get progressively worse.
As soon as everyone is able to move from their car, make sure to get all parties off to the side of the road. Leave the cars where they are and remove yourself from harm’s way.
2. Call 911
Now that you’ve at least checked on everyone and are aware of their conditions, you need to call 911. Don’t ever assume that a witness or another party involved has already called them. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
The 911 operator will automatically dispatch police officers to your area, but be sure to request medical attention as well. Even if you don’t feel like you need it, it’s better to get medical treatment as soon as possible.
Once on the scene, the police officer(s) will put together a police report by talking with everyone involved. That includes yourself, your passengers, the other party, and any witnesses that stayed behind (as they’re legally inclined to do).
As difficult as it may be, try to remove emotion from the situation. Answer all of the officer’s questions honestly and tell them the story from your point of view.
3. Exchange Information
Now that the authorities have been contacted and are on their way to you, it’s time to exchange information with the other party.
Be sure to be as cordial as possible. Gather their name, number, street address, driver’s license, license plate, and car insurance information. If there were passengers in the car with them, make sure to get their info as well.
If the rollover accident has already occurred and you left the scene without their contact info, you have no reason to worry. You and your car accident attorney can retrieve it by requesting a copy of the police report.
4. Gather Evidence for Your Case
Even if you’re undecided on whether you’ll seek compensation after the crash, you need to gather as much evidence as you can while at the scene. Once you drive away from it, that evidence will be much more difficult to compile.
Start by pulling out your phone and taking as many photos as you can. Take pictures of the damage, the other people involved, the location, the time, their license plate, the witnesses at the scene, and so on.
You’ll also want to take pictures of any injuries that you sustained and the way the vehicle is laid before they try to flip it over.
Next, go over to all of the witnesses and talk with them about what they saw. Write down a brief description of their story and get their name, number, and email. Your attorney will contact them at a later date to get their full story for your case.
Lastly, whenever there is some downtime during the process, pull out your phone, open your notes app, and write down as much info as you can remember. That way, you can have something to reference when you describe the accident to your attorney.
5. Hire a Trusted Attorney
Now that you’ve done as much as you can at the scene of the accident, it’s time to get experience and know-how on your side. Hire a trusted car accident attorney to represent you as you seek compensation.
They can help you compile more evidence and strategize your case. They’ll also provide step by step instructions on what to do when attempting to settle with the other party’s insurance provider.
After you contact an attorney, seek medical attention right away. If you don’t, the other party can use it against you. They can claim that your injuries aren’t as severe as you claim since you didn’t seek medical attention sooner.
Take Your Rollover Accident In Stride
Every rollover accident is different. However, by following these main steps, you’ll be able to handle the rollover car accident with as little setback as possible.
Be sure to read this article for more information on the types of follow-up treatments you should be receiving after your car accident injuries.
For more inquiries, please feel free to reach out via our contact us page and receive a free consultation from our experienced team. We look forward to working with you!