What To Do After A Winter New Haven Auto Accident

As New Haven auto accident attorneys, we see winter accidents of all types; some fender benders, some with severe injuries, and some that are fatal. Ice, sleet, snowy whiteout conditions, and freezing rain can cause not only two-car accidents, but multi-car pile-ups with serious injuries. If you or a loved one are ever in an accident, take the following steps:

1. Stay calm. Accidents can shake you, so this is especially important. It may not be safe to get out of your vehicle. Stay seated with your seat belt on, take some deep breaths, and check yourself and your passengers.
2. Move to safety. If your vehicle is operable and you are not seriously injured, move your car to safety. Do so with caution as other motorists will need to adjust to your slower speed.
3. Call emergency responders. Call 9-1-1 to report your accident and notify them if anyone is seriously injured and in need of medical attention. Make sure you tell them your location and stay in your vehicle. Walking around outside could cause more injuries like a slip and fall.
4. Stay warm and visible. Keep your running lights and hazard lights on until the emergency responders arrive. Stay inside your vehicle to keep warm and allow the engine to run to circulate warm air. Every few minutes crack a window to let fresh air in and make sure your tailpipe is free of snow so carbon monoxide does not get into your car.
5. Get medical help. If you have been injured, allow the EMT’s to examine you and take you to the hospital if needed. If you do not receive medical care at the scene, make sure you are seen by your doctor as soon as possible. This is an important step because these medical professionals will document the injuries you sustained in the accident to help support your claim.
6. Gather evidence. If you can, get the insurance information from the other driver, names/numbers of witnesses, photos of the vehicles and road conditions, and ask the responding police officer for a copy of the report or find out how you can get a copy.
7. Call an experienced New Haven auto accident attorney. The attorneys at The LoRicco Law Firm are experienced at handling cases like this. In fact, they even know the tricks of the insurance companies because they used to defend them. They have been defending the rights of injury victims along the shoreline for nearly 60 years.