It seems that phrases such as “it was so unexpected” and “good things happen to bad people” always fall into conversation after a car accident. Like most tragic accidents, auto crashes happen when you least expect them.
No matter the time or the season, it is essential that you know what to do if you are ever in a car accident. The minutes—even seconds—after a car accident can prove crucial for your health, well-being, and future.
Our parents, spouses, and loved ones often provide valuable advice about what to do after a car accident, but much of this advice is easily forgotten in the stressful environment following a crash.
At the Stroud, Flechas & Dalton, we want to make sure that you are prepared to handle the stress associated with a car accident and the challenges in dealing with insurance companies immediately following. Car accident attorneys see the effects of serious car accidents on a daily basis; we see the injury, the struggle, and the fight that our clients endure.
Car accidents happen within seconds, but the trauma associated with them often lasts for days, months, or even years. That is where Southaven, MS attorneys at Stroud, Flechas & Dalton can help.
At the Scene of the Car Crash
Imagine this scenario:
You are driving home after an impromptu gathering with your friends. As you are on Goodman Road heading east towards Hwy 51, you see headlights coming toward you. Before you can react, the swerving car collides head on with yours, catapulting you off the road and into a ditch.
Breathe: this is the first thing you should do after an auto accident. Check your body and see if you can move. If you can, try to look out of your door to see that it is safe to pull over to the side of the road and/or get out of your car. Other cars may have been impacted by the crash and you do not want to get injured even more by making hasty decisions.
After you turn on your hazard lights, step out of the car. Examine yourself and then see if any other person is injured. Even if nobody seems injured, it is extremely important that you call 911. After the adrenaline wears off, you may find yourself feeling aches and pains. Also some injuries cannot be seen with the human eye and require further medical treatment, including Emergency Room treatment and evaluation.
When police arrive, be sure that they document the accident. If there are witnesses, try to have them talk to the police and record their information, too. A police report can clarify anything that happened during those early moments and assist your attorney and the insurance companies in their investigation into who is at fault for the accident.
When you are sure that everyone is safe, try to take photos of the accident and surroundings (your smart phone will come in handy) and exchange insurance information with the other parties involved.
Remember that your safety comes first; if you are too injured to get out of your car, rely upon emergency personnel to assist you. Do not stress about taking photos or talking with witnesses; your safety should be your top concern.
Injuries from the Accident
Again, the most important thing to do after a car accident is to make sure of your safety. If you are injured, do not resist efforts to be transported by ambulance to Baptist Memorial Hospital (Baptist-Desoto) or another nearby hospital right away. Even if it is just scrapes and bruises, pain and injuries are often masked for several days.
Some injuries—broken bones or lacerations—are apparent right away. However, you may not immediately feel the symptoms of whiplash, closed head injury, or other soreness and muscle strains. You may think you have a pulled or strained muscle, but it may actually be something more serious like a torn ligament or a herniated or ruptured cervical or lumbar disc. After the adrenaline from the accident is gone and you are left to recover, that is when you may feel the most pain and injury.
The most common car accident injuries are:
- Whiplash (neck and back strains)
- Herniated or ruptured cervical disc
- Herniated or ruptured lumbar disc
- Herniated or ruptured thoracic disc
- Head injury (concussions)
- Chest injury, especially broken ribs and collar bone
- Arm and leg injury, especially sprains and breaks
- Cuts, scrapes, and lacerations
When you are injured in a car accident and it is caused by the negligence of others, it is up to you to contact an experienced lawyer and file a claim for the benefits and compensation that you deserve. Regaining your health is a challenge; it is even more of a challenge while you assume primary responsibility for handling medical expense claims and insurance calls. Time away from work and lost wages can also cause financial stress that can manifest itself physically, only making recover more difficult. The lawyers at Stroud, Flechas & Dalton in Southaven, Mississippi, have established themselves as experienced and thoughtful local attorneys in the Desoto County, Mississippi area and are willing to help you after your car accident injury.
Connect with a Southaven Personal Injury Attorney Today
When you are injured and left to clean up the mess a negligent driver caused, medical expenses and time away from work shouldn’t cause you more anguish and stress. By working with an experienced car accident attorney, you can receive the compensation that you deserve to help cover your continual medical expenses, lost salary from work, and other damages.
An accident attorney will be a much-needed helping hand during your recovery time. You may choose to work with a Southaven car accident attorney directly after a car accident or simply wait until handling the claim yourself becomes too much to bear. Every person’s situation is different; but the lawyers at Stroud, Flechas & Dalton have been able to offer assistance to clients of all types, not matter where they find themselves on this scale.
Can I be found to have been partially at-fault for my injuries caused by an accident?
Stroud, Flechas & Dalton has over a decade of experience working with Southaven residents after their car accident. The understanding attorneys will ensure that all of your answers are met and that you understand the lengthy, complex, legal process that you may potentially be facing.
Better yet, the lawyers will work to provide you with your best possible outcome after a car accident. Injuries can leave you feeling disheartened, especially when you are unable to do simple tasks without difficulty like driving your children to school, meeting with friends, and doing household chores. Stroud, Flechas & Dalton will work to help you receive fair compensation for your injuries so you are not penalized financially for something that was never your fault.
After an accident, it is your sole job to do everything possible for yourself to recover fully. If you have any questions regarding what to do after a car accident, or if you are wondering how a Southaven car accident attorney can help you, call us at (662) 536-5656.
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