Have You Been in a Car Accident? Cruz & Associates Can Help

Posted in Car Accidents

At best, being in a car accident is an inconvenience. At worst, it can prove fatal. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a car accident, the legal team at Cruz & Associates can help you through your next steps.

When the accident is no fault of your own, we help you get the justice and settlement you deserve. Rather than facing it alone, having an experienced car accident attorney on your side makes this process much easier. Cruz & Associates is here to help drivers in Arizona and Georgia recover from a car accident financially, mentally and emotionally.

What to Do After a Car Accident

If you’ve been in a car accident, there are a few essential things to do first. Even if the accident seems minor with no apparent damage, it’s important to take formal steps toward documentation. You never know what issues may arise down the road, so it’s best to cover your bases as soon as possible.

Check for Injuries & Ensure Safety

Immediately after the accident, check yourself and others for any major injuries. Be sure to check with other cars involved as well and address serious injuries accordingly. If possible, all drivers should move their cars to a safe area of the road to proceed with next steps. If it’s not possible to move your car, be sure your hazard lights are on to alert other drivers of your situation.

Call 911

Call 911 as soon as possible. Even if the accident is minor, you will need a police report on file to move forward with insurance claims. Regardless of the damage done, it’s best to have a police report prepared just in case. If the police are unable to come to the scene of the accident for some reason, you should be able to file a report at the station or online. It’s important to get this filed immediately.

Exchange Information

Do not leave the scene of the accident without exchanging information with the other parties involved. You’ll want to get their names, phone numbers, licence plates and driver’s license numbers, and—most importantly—their insurance information. You should also take note of the exact location where your accident took place. When police officers arrive, take note of their names and badge numbers as well.

Take Pictures

Document the details of the accident as thoroughly as you can. This includes taking photos and videos of your car, the surrounding scene, and all other cars involved. Be sure to take photos from different angles. You can also take photos of injuries for future reference. Insurance companies will use these photos during the claims process.

Notify Insurance

Notifying your insurance company is essential after an accident. Call your insurance company and give them your account of the accident as soon as you can while the details are fresh on your mind. If other involved parties suggest settling payment privately, it’s best not to take their word for it. Contacting insurance companies makes this process official and professional, which helps ensure everyone involved gets the settlement they deserve.

Call Cruz & Associates

After you’ve taken the above steps, you’ll want to give our office a call. Depending on the severity of your accident, this process can seem pretty overwhelming. Luckily, the legal representatives at Cruz & Associates will do the heavy lifting to decide the best plan of action and move forward with it. Calling our team helps put clients at ease because you can then trust that you’re in the hands of 20+ years of established, local legal experience.

Schedule Your Free Consultation Today

The first step to settling your car accident case is to contact Cruz & Associates. We offer a no-cost initial consultation to help you get an idea of what the next steps will look like. During your consultation, we recommend bringing all the details of your car accident. We’ll talk you through our process and work together to maximize the full settlement you need and deserve.

Our law firm has offices in Phoenix, Arizona and Atlanta, Georgia. Give us a call or use our online contact form to get started. We look forward to working with you.