What to Do After a Car Accident in Massachusetts

Most people know that you should never panic after a car accident. Panicking can put you in more danger and cause you to make unwise decisions. So instead of panicking, what should you do after a car accident in Massachusetts?

Contact Cava Law Firm if you have been in an auto accident. Put your case in the hands of experienced professionals who know how to recover maximum compensation. Call (413) 737-3430 or (413) 781-CAVA (2282) for a free consultation today.

Dial 911

After an accident, it is important to dial 911 in the event of an injury. First responders, including police, will provide the care and leadership necessary at accident scenes. Police will also file a police report that will likely be used as evidence in your compensation claim.

Be Safe

In every case, staying safe should be your top priority. The risk of injury or death is high after an accident, especially if the victims and vehicles remain in the line of traffic. Removing yourself and your vehicle from the road is recommended when reasonably possible. Additionally, the use of flares, cones, and other accident-signaling devices is helpful in staving off a second accident.

Remember that being parked or standing on a shoulder is not safe, even though it may be your only option. Turnouts and other similar drive-outs with space for multiple cars are the safest options, but they are not always available. As such, car accident parties should be on high alert if parked on a shoulder.

Seek Medical Attention

If an injury is involved, you should have it evaluated and treated by a medical professional. First responders can do much to save lives. However, they only provide stabilizing treatment and do not provide full medical workups. A visit to a hospital or other medical facility for an evaluation can save your life as well as protect your compensation claim. You need a record of your injuries in order to collect proper compensation.

Take Photos and Video Footage

One of the most effective ways to help your compensation case is to take photos and video footage at the accident scene. They could later prove to be immensely helpful in proving liability and damages.

When taking photos and footage, you want to make sure to include:

• Various angles of the accident scene;
• The position and condition of the vehicles;
• Skid marks and road debris;
• Traffic signs and signals;
• Shots of injuries; and
• Footage of the parties involved and their behavior.

Make sure to also capture the weather conditions as well as the road conditions. If potholes or other defects were potentially involved, take shots of those as well. Ultimately, you want to gather as much visual evidence as possible. With photos and video footage from a fresh accident scene, your attorney will be able to serve you much more efficiently.

Take Witness Statements and Contact Information

Witnesses can provide powerful testimony in favor of your case. But remember that the freshest witness statements have the most credibility. Memory deteriorates or distorts over time, so recorded or memorialized statements at the time of an accident typically are more trustworthy than statements made long after an accident has occurred. Make sure to also gather witnesses’ contact information as well.

Exchange Information With the Other Driver

You will also want to exchange the required information with the other driver, which includes:

• Full names of both drivers;
• Driver’s license number;
• Contact details;
• Insurance information; and
• License plate number.

Make sure to also write down the make and model of the car and note any distinctive characteristics, if possible, such as bald tires or missing tail lights. Take note of how the other driver behaves as well. If they are intoxicated or otherwise impaired, you will want to take note of or record their behavior. If the police arrive, they should also take action.

Meet With an Experienced Auto Accident Attorney

Meeting with an experienced car accident lawyer will increase the odds that you get the compensation you are entitled to. The sooner you can hire an attorney, the stronger your case will likely be. Insurance companies know full well that when an experienced attorney is representing a claimant, the company will more than likely have to pay up what they truly owe and not what they want to pay.

An experienced accident attorney executes a number of tasks and strategies when representing clients, including:

• Thorough investigations of the accident circumstances;
• Analysis and application of the law to the situation;
• Managing all claim documents and paperwork;
• Negotiating with insurance companies; and
• Meeting all claim-related deadlines.

It is while accomplishing these tasks that your attorney will be fighting for maximum compensation for your injuries and losses. In the meantime, you are able to heal without the pressure of managing a compensation claim.

Insurance companies prefer claimants to handle compensation claims without attorneys because it allows them to pay less. In the majority of auto accident cases, victims without attorneys rely on insurance companies’ evaluations of the circumstances and essentially take what they can get.

The opposite is true for victims with attorneys. When an experienced attorney is involved, the attorney will perform their own investigations and calculations to determine what their client really should get. Invariably, the attorney’s calculation of damages will be higher than the insurance company’s, because the attorney is looking after the victim’s compensation interests. The insurance company, on the other hand, is more concerned about profits.

Do Not Delay

There are strict deadlines in place for insurance claims and personal injury lawsuits. If you do not meet these deadlines, you will likely lose all rights to compensation. Hence, delaying can be the end of your case. For personal injury lawsuits for damages caused by Massachusetts auto accidents, the statute of limitations is three years.

Speak With Dedicated Car Accident Attorneys Who Care

Auto accidents can leave victims with serious injuries and deep financial problems. Insurance companies try to avoid paying what they owe. Car accident victims need advocates to help ensure proper compensation. If you have been injured in an auto wreck, do not delay in seeking the representation you deserve.

Cava Law Firm is ready to fight for you and the funds you are entitled to. We offer free consultations to review your case. Call (413) 737-3430 or (413) 781-CAVA (2282) to meet with an attorney today.

Attorney Jennifer L. Cava-Foreman

Attorney Jennifer L. Cava-Foreman would like to take the guesswork out of choosing a lawyer by letting the facts and her winning verdicts speak for themselves. Attorney Cava-Foreman is known in the local courts and has firsthand experience with many types of cases ranging from personal injury to criminal defense. Attorney Cava-Foreman understands that every case and every client is different. Whether a client is injured or mixed up in a criminal matter, she will provide the legal advice needed and stand up for her client in court. [ Attorney Bio ]