Hit and Run Accident Attorney Des Moines IA

When you know what to do if a car accident occurs, you can remain calm and take care of business to make sure everyone is safe. You’ll protect your rights and be able to make a claim. The following is a brief overview of the five steps you should take if you have been injured in a crash. For more detailed information, contact a Des Moines, Iowa hit and run accident attorney from Des Moines Injury Law.

Here are five things to do.

1-Make a Report of the Accident

Call the police and make a report. Get the officer’s name and badge number. If anyone is hurt, get an ambulance. Don’t tell anyone that you’re sorry or that it was your fault. Just work on making sure everyone is safe and sound.

2- Seek Medical Treatment
Don’t wait to get medical treatment after an accident. A Des Moines, IA hit and run accident attorney knows the insurance company may try to claim that your injuries were due to another cause rather than the accident. You may not need to go to the emergency room, but you might consider an urgent care clinic or your own doctor if you can make an appointment that day.

3- Collect Evidence and Documentation

At the scene of the accident, try to get as much information as you can from the other driver and witnesses. Use your phone to take pictures of the damages to your car and the surrounding scene. Don’t rely on the police report, because it can take a week or longer to get that from the officer. You’ll need contact information for the other driver quicker than that to report it to your insurance company. In hit and run cases, try to give as much of a description of the other vehicle as possible. 

Keep a folder with any paperwork from your medical treatment and bills. Save your pictures and data to the cloud or email them to yourself. If your phone crashes, you want that information in another place. Track your phone calls with your insurance company. Make notes about who you talked to and when. Your car accident attorney in Des Moines, IA will use all of this information to help build your case. 

4 – Contact Your Insurance Company
Even if the other driver doesn’t want to involve your insurance company or the other driver took off, you need to report the accident. The other driver may change his or her mind and claim the accident was your fault. The quicker you get the information to your insurance company, the quicker they can begin to gather evidence and get your claim processed.

5 -Talk to a Des Moines, IA Hit and Run Accident Attorney

If your car accident left you with serious injuries, you should consult a hit and run accident attorney Des Moines, IA clients recommend from Des Moines Injury Law, LLP to protect your rights and determine whether you’re getting a fair settlement or not. Your lawyer can help you take the best steps to make a successful claim and receive compensation for your injuries based on the laws where the accident occurred.