Steps to Take After a Car Accident in Baton Rouge

After a car accident, you can file a claim against the person who caused your accident. Car accidents in Baton Rouge are governed by tort law, which means you must file a claim with the insurance company representing the at-fault party. The steps you take immediately after a crash can greatly help your claim, or they can hurt it. Below, our Baton Rouge car accident lawyer explains the steps that will help you successfully claim the damages you need to make a full recovery.

Stop

The very first thing to do after an accident is to stop at the scene of the crash. Stop and pull your vehicle over to a safe location so it does not cause a secondary accident. If you fail to stop, the police may charge you with a hit-and-run, which carries serious penalties. If the accident did not result in injury, you can face a fine of up to $500 and as many as six months in jail. After fleeing the scene of an accident that did cause injury or death, you may face a fine of up to $5,000 and up to 10 years in prison with or without hard labor, or both.

Report the Crash

Under Louisiana law, you are required to report a car accident that involves injury or death or property damage exceeding $500. One of the first things you should do after a crash is to report the accident. Not only will this keep you in compliance with the law, but it will also help document the accident and may even suggest which party was at fault.

Take Pictures and Video Footage

Photos can significantly help you prove that another driver is to blame for your injuries. You should take pictures of your injuries, any property damage to the vehicles, and the accident scene as a whole, as well as relevant information, such as a stop sign or skid marks on the road. Taking video of the accident scene can also help capture the entire accident scene and may help you obtain footage of something you did not notice right away but later becomes relevant. If your injuries prevent you from taking pictures or video, ask a bystander not involved in the crash to obtain this evidence for you.

Locate Witnesses

Eyewitness testimony is given significant weight after a crash in Louisiana. Witnesses do not have anything to gain or lose in a claim, so insurance companies and juries listen carefully to their testimony. Soon after the accident, locate anyone who saw the crash and ask them for their names and contact information. Also let them know that your attorney may contact them later to obtain their statement.

Seek Medical Attention

One of the most important steps after any auto accident is to seek medical attention. You should visit an emergency room immediately afterward or allow the paramedics at the scene to examine you, even if you do not believe you were injured. Many injuries do not present any symptoms right away, so seeking medical attention may uncover injuries you did not know you had.

In addition to protecting your safety and well-being, seeking medical attention is very important for another reason, as well. Seeing a doctor soon after an accident will document your injuries, helping you to prove the nature and severity of them. If you do not seek medical attention, the insurance company representing the at-fault party will argue that you were not hurt because you did not obtain the necessary treatment.

Call Your Insurance Company

Many people think that if they are not at fault for a crash, they are not required to report the accident to their own insurance company. Unfortunately, this is not true. Most auto insurance policies include a provision requiring you to notify your insurer of any accident, even if you were not at fault. This notifies the insurer that the insurance company representing the negligent driver will contact them and start the claims process. If you fail to notify your insurance company after a crash, the insurer could cancel your policy.

Call our Car Accident Lawyer in Baton Rouge

At Big River Trial Attorneys, our Baton Rouge car accident lawyer has the necessary experience to help you through the claims process and ensure you receive the full and fair settlement you are entitled to. Before speaking with anyone else after a crash, call us at (225) 963-9638 or contact us online to request a free consultation and to get the legal help you need.