Auto Accident Treatment

Studies rank South Carolina among the worst states in the nation for automobile crashes. Over six million car crashes occur each year in the United States. Fortunately, most of them involve only property damage - damage to the vehicle as opposed to the occupants. But one in three accidents involves personal injury to the driver or passengers and out of that number. If you become a statistic, here are a few things to keep in mind.

1. STOP. Never drive away from the scene of an accident, even a minor one.

2. PROTECT THE SCENE. You can prevent further accidents by keeping your flashers on. If it is dark and your lights don't work, you should have a flashlight to keep you safe while you wait in your disabled car or by the side of the road. Make sure other cars driving by can see that you are out of your vehicle and make sure you are watching traffic at all times.

3. CALL THE POLICE. Even if there are no serious injuries, it is a good idea to call the police. Even if the other driver/drivers involved say no, it is worth having an officer come out to assess if there is intervention needed. You may need a police report to file a claim with your insurance company, even if it is just to make a claim for damage to your vehicle. The vehicles involved in the accident should remain where they are, unless they interfere with traffic.

4. MAKE AN ACCURATE RECORD. When the police arrive, make sure you tell the investigating officer(s) exactly what happened, to the best of your ability. If you do not know certain facts, tell that to the officer. Do not speculate, guess or misstate any of the facts. If you are asked if you are injured and you are not sure, say you are not sure, rather than no. Often, the pain and injuries from motor vehicle accidents become apparent hours to days after the actual collision.

5. TAKE PICTURES. Almost everyone has a cell phone that has a camera and you should take pictures of the vehicles if there is visible damage. If you have visible injuries, you should photograph them as well. However, you should in no way interfere with the on-going police investigation. If you cannot take pictures at the scene of the accident, take them as soon as possible after the accident.

6. EXCHANGE INFORMATION. Typically, the investigating police officer obtains this information. However, if the police do not respond to the accident, you should obtain the name, address and telephone number of all persons involved in the accident, drivers and passengers alike. You should also obtain information about insurance by asking to see the insurance card for all vehicles involved in the accident. If there are witnesses, you should get information from them as well so that you or your attorney can contact them in the future. If police respond to the accident, the investigating officer usually will provide all drivers with a police report number.

7. REPORT THE ACCIDENT. Notify your insurance company as soon as possible. Your agent will have to take your FR-10, the form you get from the officer, and turn that into the DMV. That needs to occur within 15 days after the accident. Failure to do so may result in suspension of your license. Many policies require immediate reporting and full cooperation. Find out if you have medical benefits as part of your insurance coverage. You pay extra for that type of coverage - known as personal injury protection or PIP - so you should use it. In fact, if you have PIP coverage, you are required to submit your accident-related medical bills to your insurance company. PIP coverage is primary for accident-related medical bills. Once PIP benefits are exhausted, private health insurance becomes your primary insurer. PIP benefits are available to all the occupants of the vehicle. Your insurance rates should not increase as a result of submitting claims for PIP coverage.

8. SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. Often, injuries caused by motor vehicle accidents are not immediately apparent. Most patients report feeling the most pain a day or two following an automobile accident. Unless you are absolutely certain you were not injured, you should seek medical attention at your local chiropractor, emergency room, urgent care facility, or family physician.. Even in accidents involving minor impact, you can sustain a serious and permanent injury to your spine. If you lost consciousness or were dazed for even a short period of time following the collision, you may have suffered a concussion or closed head injury. This can cause cognitive and behavioral changes if left untreated.

9. PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS. Perhaps the most important thing you should do after an accident is to consult your attorney. Your attorney can protect your rights and make sure valuable evidence is not destroyed. Often, insurance companies want to take statements immediately after an accident. It is important that you have received legal advice before providing such a statement. Your attorney can advise you on issues ranging from how to make sure you are fully compensated for your vehicle to how to make sure you are getting the best medical treatment available. Personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means there is no legal fee unless the attorney recovers compensation for your injuries.

10. KEEP A FILE. Keep all your accident-related documents and information together. This information should include a claim number, the claim's adjuster who is handling the claim, names and phone numbers of all contacts, receipts for a rental car and other expenses incurred as a result of the accident. Keeping a journal of your pain as well as documenting the things you can’t do because of your injuries is also a good idea.

Whiplash Pain Center

Dr. Alykhan Shariff

714 St. Andrews Blvd

Charleston, SC 29407

(843) 350-5022

www.aschelpsme.com