What should you do after a car accident?

A car accident can happen suddenly and alter your way of living significantly. For example, if you sustained serious injuries in a car crash, you may struggle to go back to work and attend to regular household duties.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 110 people died every day in car accidents in 2020 and many more sustained injuries. If you are currently recovering from a car accident, the following steps can help you protect your financial and legal interests.

Seek medical attention

Even if your injuries seem minor, seek medical attention. If your doctor prescribes a routine for ongoing care, continue to adhere to his or her recommendations. Do not skip medical appointments, even if you feel like you do not need care.

Document your recovery

Take steps to document the impact the injuries have on your daily life and the recovery process. For instance, you may want to maintain a daily journal where you write down how you feel and how your injuries limited your abilities that day.

Gather documentation

Gather documentation related to the car accident and store it in your personal files. You may want to retrieve a copy of the police report as well as any medical records related to your injuries.

It can take time to feel like you have recovered from a car accident, and depending on your injuries, this could take many weeks or even months. Continue to take the recovery process seriously, so you can increase your chances of making a full recovery and returning to your normal daily life.