Be Safe Out There!

As the winter months are upon us here in Northwest Ohio, and the inevitable weather that comes along with it is knocking at our doors, please remember to be safe out there while driving. Slow down, leave a little earlier, keep enough distance between you and the vehicle in front of you, and keep an eye out for trouble ahead. Though we make a living representing injured people, we take absolutely no joy in seeing people injured.

If you do find yourself in the unfortunate position of being in an automobile, motorcycle, or tractor-trailer collision, here are some Dos and Don’ts to follow:

DO:

DO call 911 to report the crash to the police and request an ambulance if there are injuries.

DO exchange information with the other driver (s).

• Name, address, contact details.
• Auto insurance company and policy number.
• License number

DO get the name, address, and contact details of all witnesses.

DO take photos of the scene and the vehicles involved. Later take photos of any injuries.

DO speak ONLY to the police about the details of the crash and what happened.

DO report ALL injuries and symptoms to EMS personnel no matter how slight they might seem at the time.

DO follow-up with your doctor and follow his or her advice regarding treatment.

DO report the accident to your auto insurance company.

DO seek the advice of a personal injury attorney, like the knowledgeable and skilled attorneys of Lafferty Gallagher & Scott, LLC, to determine if you need representation.

DO NOT:

DO NOT admit responsibility for the accident. Speak ONLY to the police about the facts and do not offer any opinions to anyone.

DO NOTgive any insurance information but your health insurance to EMS, emergency room or other health care providers. You may be pressured to supply information about your own auto insurance or the other driver’s auto insurance. DO NOT GIVE THIS INFORMATION (and here is why).

DO NOT wait to get medical treatment if you are injured no matter how slight you believe the injury to be. Get checked out.

DO NOT give a statement to the other driver’s insurance company.

DO NOT sign a medical release or any other document for the other driver’s insurance company without first seeking advice from a personal injury attorney.

The information contained in this blog post is general information, and should not be treated as legal advice. No attorney/client relationship exists between the reader and Lafferty, Gallagher & Scott, LLC without a signed Attorney Contract Agreement of Representation. Each case is unique and past results should not be treated as a guarantee of the results in your case.