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A car accident has occurred when any type of motor vehicle, a car, truck, bus, or motorcycle collides with another vehicle, stationary object, or person.
Speed, force and damage can impact the severity of the accident, but even the most minor of crashes are still considered motor vehicle wrecks.
Different Types of Car Accidents
The Most Common Type of Car Accident
Do I Need to Call the Police After an Accident Occurs?
Yes, it is always a good idea to call the police when an accident occurs. A police officer will determine fault, create a police report, and ticket the negligent driver.
This official documentation of liability will be important later when filing a claim against the at fault driver because they will have little grounds to dispute it.
Also, having a police officer on scene will expedite and ensure the exchange of personal and insurance information.
When You Have to Call the Police
NOLO Explains if Minor Accidents Need to be Reported
What Can I Do at the Scene of the Accident?
The first two things you should do following an accident is call the police and check on all persons involved. If nobody is severely injured, you can begin gathering information and evidence while waiting for the police to arrive.
Try to gather and write down as much information as you can get, including:
Driver Name and Contact Information
Make and Model of Vehicles
Eyewitness Names, Contact Information, and Statements
Exact Location of the Accident
Badge Number and Name of Responding Police Officers
Photograph the scene if you have a phone with a camera. It would be beneficial to take pictures of the following:
All Involved Cars and their Damage
These photos can come in handy during the claim process.
Understand What To Do After an Accident
What Can You Do at the Scene to Help Your Case?
More Steps to Take after You Car Accident
Do I Need to Seek Medical Attention?
Yes, we recommend to always seek medical treatment immediately following a car accident, regardless of visible injuries.
Your health is most important and making sure you address your injuries should be your first priority because soreness and internal injuries can lead to greater problems if left untreated.
Most car accident injuries are soft tissue injuries, which means they primarily affect the neck, back, and head, and are not visible.
Additionally, having visited your doctor means medical records have been created and will be used later to support your case if your injuries progress and you need to obtain more compensation in your settlement.
If you wait to see a doctor or decide not to go at all, the likelihood of the other party’s insurance company paying you for your medical expenses is extremely slim, even with an attorney’s help. They will most likely deny your injury claim and state that you were not injured or claim that your injury was caused by a later, non-related, incident after the wreck took place.
How Long Do I Have to See a Doctor?
Georgia Car Accident Laws
What Happens to Your Body During a Car Accident
What If I Feel No Pain Right After My Accident?
There is a good chance that you will not feel any pain immediately following your accident. However, this does not mean you do not need to see a doctor or are not injured.
Many people do not feel pain or injuries after a car accident because of the sudden release of adrenaline. These endorphins mask pain and block signals telling you that you are injured and in pain.
Plus, many crash victims suffer non-visible injuries, like whiplash, and these injuries sometimes take a few days to present their symptoms.
Therefore, it is in your best interest to see a doctor following your accident regardless of the presence of pain. A car accident chiropractic doctor specializes in diagnosing injuries that you may have suffered in the crash, even if they are not present yet.
Common Myths About Car Crash Injuries
NOLO Explain Why Injuries Do Not Always Show Up Immediately
Who Should I Not Talk to After a Car Accident?
When you have been involved in an auto accident, the other driver's insurance company is almost certainly going to try to contact you, and it is not in your best interest to accommodate them.
While your own insurance company probably requires you to cooperate when you file a claim, you are never required to talk to the other driver's insurance claim adjuster.
The other side's insurance company will attempt to get you to make a statement by enticing you with settlement offers, but their true intentions are to extract information from you that will later be used against you and your claim.
Additionally, these adjusters attempt to contact you right after the accident, before you know the extent of your injuries, car damage, medical expenses, and other out of pocket expenses. Therefore leaving you unqualified to even tell the insurance adjuster the extent of the damages and your injuries.
For these reasons, you are better off politely declining a claims adjuster's request to provide a statement about the accident and your resulting injuries and leaving the negotiating to your attorney and own insurance company.
Know Your Rights After a Car Accident
You Are Not Required to Talk to the Other Insurance Adjuster
Do I Need an Attorney?
Whether or not you need an attorney depends on the details of your specific accident, but if the  accident was caused by a negligent driver, it is always a good idea to seek legal help to guarantee your medical bills, personal property damage, lost wages, and other expenses are paid for.
An attorney has the experience necessary to file a claim and help you obtain the maximum amount of compensation when the insurance company tries to refute your claim or lessen the severity of your injuries to pay out less for your pain and suffering.
Understand When an Attorney is Necessary
How an Attorney Will Help
What Types of Injuries Are Caused by Car Accidents?
Common Injuries sustained after a car crash include:
Back and Neck Pain
Broken Bones and Fractures
Head Injuries and Concussions
Arm and Leg Injuries
Most Common Auto Accident Injuries
Understanding Soft Tissue Injuries and Whiplash
What Expenses Could I Have After a Car Accident?
Expenses that you may be exposed to after the wreck:
Medical Bills for Treatments, Medications, and Procedures.
Car Repair or Car Replacement
Miscellaneous Out of Pocket Expenses
Biggest Expenses After a Wreck
What Does Insurance Pay For?
Who Will Pay for my Medical Bills?
If you were hurt in a car accident, your medical insurance will usually not cover any of the treatment you have to receive. Therefore, unless you want to pay cash out of pocket, you will require medical benefits on your car insurance policy.
Now, if you were not at fault in your accident, you could be compensated by the other driver’s insurance for your necessary medical procedures and treatments. For this to happen, the at fault driver’s insurance company will need to put something in writing stating they will pay for your medical bills. Unfortunately, they usually will not sign this agreement.
Finally, your last, and best option, is to hire an attorney. Your attorney will then sign a lien with your treating chiropractor or doctor agreeing to cover any medical bills while they pursue your settlement from the accident. When your lawyer signs a lien, that relieves you of all stress and financial responsibility concerning your medical bills.
Then, when you receive your settlement, it should more than cover the cost of those medical treatments, damages, pain and suffering, and other expenses.
Understanding "No Fault" States
How to Handle Medical Bills After a Car Accident
What Am I Entitled to Recover in Damages?
Injured Car Crash Victims are entitled to receive several types of damages in a personal injury lawsuit.
First and foremost, a claim for all of your medical treatments, procedures, and medicines are chief among these, but you may also claim damages for pain and suffering, property loss and lost wages if you missed work due to your injury.
If the car accident was not your fault, you should be able to obtain compensation for any expenses incurred as a result of the accident, because they would have been non-existent if the accident had not happened.
Damages You Can Claim After an Accident
How to Obtain Your Maximum Payout
What If I Miss Work Because of My Injuries?
If an injury that you suffered in a car accident that was not your fault is keeping you from returning to work and earning money that you would have otherwise normally received, then you are owed compensation for your lost wages.
Compensation for lost wages can include,
Wages for hours, days, weeks, or months in which you could not work.
Lost earning capacity, if the accident left you with a long-term or permanent disability preventing you from ever being able to return to work or a specific type of work.
Lost opportunities, like missing a job interview or promotion for example
To file a claim for lost wages, you need to provide the following paperwork and documentation,
A letter from your physician describing your injuries and how long they kept you from working.
A letter from your employer verifying the exact amount of work missed due to your injuries.
Calculating lost wages should normally be straightforward, the amount is based on your pay rate and the amount of time you missed at work. Your reimbursement could potentially be increased depending on if you missed promotions or interview opportunities.
Understanding Lost Wages After a Car Accident
FOX Explains What To Do If You Are Injured and Unable to Work
What are Common Causes of Motor Vehicle Accidents?
Some of the most common causes of auto accident include:
Texting or Talking on the Phone
Selecting Songs on an MP3 Player
Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs
How to Prevent Car Accidents
Forbes Tells You the Most Dangerous Times to Drive
Where Accidents Most Commonly Occur
What Auto Accident Injury Conditions do Chiropractors Treat?
Chiropractors treat a wide variety of conditions that afflict the musculoskeletal system and cause pain in areas like the neck, head, and back.
Anything that hinders function or causing pain to these areas of the body can usually be treated by a licensed chiropractor.
How a Chiropractor Can Help You Heal Faster After an Accident
List of Disorders that Chiropractors Treat
Why is Chiropractic Care so effective for treating Car Accident Injuries?
Chiropractors are usually recommended after a motor vehicle accident because chiropractic doctors specialize in treating soft tissue injuries, nerve damage, and spinal misalignments, which are the most common after a car wreck.
Most people hurt in car accidents usually sustain back and neck injuries, like whiplash, and these types of injuries are effectively treated by chiropractic manipulation and other natural therapies.