• February 10
  • Advice from your Atlanta, Georgia Car Accident Attorney – Steps to Take if you are in a Car Accident

car-wreck-use-in-blog-300x225There are many car accidents every week in the Atlanta and surrounding metro-Atlanta areas such as Cobb County, DeKalb County, Fulton County, downtown Atlanta, Midtown, Marietta, Buckhead, and Decatur, just to name a few.  Car wrecks happen daily on Interstates I-75, I-85, and I-285, as well as on state roads and side roads throughout Georgia.  In a city as congested as Atlanta, Georgia, it’s inevitable that accidents are going to occur.  And so if you live and drive in Atlanta or a suburb of Atlanta, it’s critical that you know the steps to take should you be involved in a collision.

It goes without saying that you should always drive carefully and defensively, but if you are one of the unfortunate victims of a car crash in Atlanta, here are the steps you should take immediately following the incident:

  1. Stay calm, so that you can remain in control of the situation. Becoming angry or emotional will only cause the situation to escalate, which is not helpful for any of the parties involved.
  2. Make sure that everyone is okay and that no one has been seriously injured.  If everyone seems to be all right and there are no serious injuries, move the cars to the side of the road so that they are not blocking ongoing traffic, which could cause further accidents.
  3. Call 911 to report the accident.  You should always report the incident because in many cases having an accident report on file will expedite the handling of your claim by the insurance companies.  A formal accident report will also serve as evidence in the event you have a dispute with the other driver as to who was at fault.  And it’s very important that you don’t admit fault, even if you do think it was your fault.  Do not admit fault to the police or to the other driver.
  4. Exchange information with the other driver(s).  Be sure you get their name, driver’s license number, phone number, and vehicle tag number; their insurance company name, policy number, and phone number, as well as jotting down a description of their vehicle including color, model, and year.  Be sure to give them your information as well.
  5. Photograph and document the accident.  Use your cellphone camera if you don’t have another camera available.  Make sure that the photos show not only the damage to your vehicle but the overall context of the accident so that you can make your case to the insurance claims adjuster.  Also make written notes about the scene of the accident, such as weather conditions, date and time of accident, location of the accident, and any other relevant factors.  The more evidence you have, the better you will be able to prove your case if necessary.
  6. Get names and numbers of any eyewitnesses.  If anyone witnessed the accident, get their name, phone number, and any other information that they are willing to provide to you, such as a brief statement of what they saw.  This can be very helpful if the other driver has a different version of what happened.  Once again, the more proof you have, the better your case.
  7. Report the accident to your insurance company as soon as possible.  The sooner you report the claim, the sooner they can begin working on processing it.

If you have suffered injuries in a car accident and believe that you might need an attorney to assist you in handling your case, our experienced car accident attorneys at the Bennett Law Group are here to help.  Our initial consultation is free.  Please contact us online or give us a call at 404.541-9330.  Our Atlanta, GA personal injury & car accident lawyers look forward to speaking with you about your case.

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