Car accidents can sometimes be trivial, with no injuries involved. However, no matter the situation, you shouldn’t leave the accident scene. According to a personal injury attorney in Indianapolis, you might face a misdemeanor charge in Indianapolis if you leave the accident scene without at least exchanging contact information.
But there might also be further consequences. Here is everything you need to know about leaving a car accident scene in Indianapolis.
Consequences of Leaving the Accident Scene
We often treat minor wounds superficially, but when there are no immediate injuries, many people fail to consider the future consequences. Injuries caused by car accidents might not always be visible right away.
Some symptoms may manifest later because, in the heat of the moment, adrenaline masks the signs of any potential injuries. Because of this, if you later decide to file a personal injury claim, you will have a significant disadvantage if you leave the accident scene when it occurred.
First of all, in most car accidents, victims undergo a medical check-up to have their injuries evaluated and treated. When this happens, you get a medical record that you can use in your car accident claim.
Second, when you leave the accident scene and later decide to file a claim because you started to have some issues with your health, your claim won’t be as strong as it would be if you visited a doctor soon after the accident.
What You Should Do in a Car Accident
Personal injury claims can lead to important financial aid for car accident victims. If you were involved in a car accident in Indianapolis and didn’t suffer any injuries, you should still do the following:
Assess the Situation
You should first stop your car and see if you, the passengers, and the other driver is safe. Make sure to move your car from the road if possible so that the other drivers can safely pass by.
Call The Authorities
Contacting the police and requesting an ambulance is crucial in any car accident situation. Injuries aren’t always visible, and you should let a medic check you up.
Gathering Information
While you are at the accident scene, even if you didn’t suffer any injuries, you should still gather contact information from the other driver and any eyewitnesses. This is important because even if you didn’t suffer injuries, who knows what the other party might do. They might even blame you for the accident, even if it wasn’t your fault.
Taking photos of the accident scene or recording the scene with your telephone is also a good idea to gather evidence.
Contact an Indianapolis Car Accident Attorney
Lastly, you should contact an Indianapolis car accident attorney. They will help you properly file a personal injury claim and prove who was responsible for the car accident if necessary. They can also help you receive compensation for your property damage or even non-economic damages.
