It’s just another day and you’re going on your merry way when you get rear-ended. Your brakes slam and your coffee spills as you’re plunged forward. What do you do next? Just following these five basic steps after a car accident can lead to promising results.

1. 5 W’s

Remember learning the five W’s in grade school (and sometimes how)? That’s what you’ll need to gather all the necessary information concerning your car accident. Gather the who, the what, the where, the when, and always the how.

Here is a simple example to help show you what to focus on:

Who was involved?

Gather the names, addresses and contact information of the other drivers, passengers, and witnesses (if applicable).

What damages or injuries have resulted?

Gather information on all damage to not only your vehicle, but the other party’s cars too!

Where did the accident take place?

Gather information on the time and location of the accident. Write down the weather conditions and road conditions, because you will likely forget later on.

How did the accident take place?

Write down a description of how the accident happened for yourself and because your attorney will need it.

TIP: What better way to document all this information than with your smartphone.

2. Photographs

Pull out your phone. Begin taking pictures of the damages caused to the vehicles. Make sure you include the license plate, driver’s license, registration, and the insurance of the involved. If there are any visible injuries, caused on site or developed later (i.e. bruising), make sure to include that in your photos as well.

It is also a great idea to take photographs of the road conditions or intersection/scene of accident. The best photos are the ones of the actual scene before the cars are moved to the side of the road. Keep in mind, your safety should be your priority, so only do this if it is safe to do so. If anyone is severely injured call 9-1-1.

3. Avoid Speaking With Adjusters

Avoid speaking with adjusters when they give you a call just hours after your accident. Other than the basic facts of where and when the accident took place, you may refuse to go into further details of your case. To avoid potential false statements, do not discuss in detail your injury as it may later develop, spread, or become worse than the prior days and politely refuse to give a recorded statement, as you may possibly leave out necessary information.

4. Don’t Publicize Your Information

Be wary of publicizing your information. Avoid posting on social media when you are injured, as your whereabouts and well-being may decrease the severity of your injuries. For example, posting a picture of yourself roller-skating the day after your accident will be used against you in your case. Adjusters and opposing attorneys will investigate your social media pages, so be careful!

5. ADVO is your Advocate for Justice

With over 10 years of experience, we are exceptionally skilled in fighting for your rights and highly dedicated to helping accident injury victims. What sets us apart from other injury attorneys? Our attorneys have experience working with the BAD GUYS. Yup, that is right. We have specialized knowledge of how insurance companies and their attorneys handle the case. This knowledge lets us represent you better than anyone can!

You don’t have to pay for someone else’s negligence. We will guide you through the process to make your recovery as easy as possible. Call us for your free consultation or leave your number at advolawyers.com for a call back.