Steps to Take After a Parking Lot Accident

Colburn Law

Posted in Car Accidents,Safety Tips on August 14, 2019

A parking lot can be a perfect spot for a car accident to occur. You and your fellow drivers focused on getting to your chosen destination or to head home, and the next moment, another vehicle collides into you. The moments after a parking lot accident are crucial to filing a successful personal injury lawsuit or insurance claim. Here is what you need to do after a parking lot accident.

#1: Check for Injuries and Seek Medical Attention

As soon as possible after the accident, check yourself for injuries. Do you feel like you can move around safely and without pain? Did your passengers, any pedestrians or cyclists, or the occupants of the other car suffer injuries? If so, call 911 and receive emergency medical attention.

Even if you do not feel as if you have any injuries, you should seek medical attention as soon as you can after your car accident. Symptoms of injuries after an accident can appear hours or even days later, and if you tell the insurance company or the other driver that you don’t have any injuries, you could lose your chances at recovering compensation. Do not make any statements about your injuries until you go to the doctor.

In addition, seeking medical attention can greatly benefit your future insurance claim or lawsuit. Your medical records will be a key piece of evidence, proving that you suffered injuries in the accident and that you can claim compensation for these injuries.

#2: Call the Police

When you call 911 for medical attention, law enforcement will also arrive at the scene. Speaking to a police officer is also important following a parking lot accident – he or she will ask you and anyone else at the scene about the accident and compile a narrative of what happened. The officer will come to a preliminary conclusion about what happened – which can greatly benefit your claim.

Ask the officer for his or her name and badge number so you can follow up at a later time. You can obtain the police report and any supporting documents to use as evidence in your future insurance claim or lawsuit.

#3: Document the Scene

If you feel well enough to move around and take photographs of the scene, you should do so. Take pictures of your injuries and the damage to your vehicle, as well as the other vehicles involved in the accident. Photograph the scene and any traffic signs or signals. If you can, come back to the scene a few days later around the same time of your accident and photograph what it is like during that time of day.

#4: Collect Contact Information

You should collect the contact information of the other driver or drivers involved in your accident. Ask for his or her name, phone number, address, and email address. Collect his or her insurance information as well, and note the make, model, color, and license plate number of his or her car. Take a picture of his or her driver’s license as well.

If there are any witnesses at the scene, ask them for their contact information as well. Ask for their names, phone numbers, and email addresses for support in your future claim.

#5: Contact a Car Accident Attorney

Once you receive medical attention and you feel stable enough to begin the claims process, contact a Washington car accident attorney as soon as you can. Your attorney will be able to examine the facts of your case, provide guidance on how to proceed with your claim, and handle the legal process on your behalf. Do not speak with an insurance adjuster before contacting a Seattle car accident attorney.

The moments after a parking lot accident can be disorienting and shocking. However, it is important to take these vital steps in order to increase your chances of receiving compensation through a personal injury lawsuit or insurance claim. After you receive medical attention, make sure to contact a car accident attorney as soon as possible to begin the claims process.