What to Do After a Car Accident in Columbus, OH

Make sure to get to a safe location at the crash site, then call 911. Remain at the scene until law enforcement arrives. In Ohio, it is illegal to leave the scene of a reportable car accident unless it is for emergency medical care. The responding officer will likely be from the Columbus Police, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, or Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Once an officer arrives, get their name, badge number, and agency. This will help you find your Ohio Crash Report – an important piece of evidence to support your claim. Get checked out by emergency medical personnel even if you feel okay. You may be suffering from internal bleeding, vital organ damage, delayed pain, or broken bones and not even know it.

Some of the best evidence to support your injury claim will only be around for a short time. Crashed vehicles are moved out of the road. Physical evidence, like tire marks and shattered glass, is cleaned up. Witnesses lose their memory. Wounds heal.

Document the crash before evidence dries up. Get video and photos of vehicle position, injuries, road conditions, and physical evidence like skid marks. Collect statements from witnesses. Get their names and contact information, too.

Do not go into detail with the police, an insurance agent, or anyone else about the crash or your injuries. Cooperate with the police but keep your answers short and stick to the facts. Don’t talk to the other driver’s insurance company – there is nothing that would require you to do this. Do not say “I’m sorry” or discuss fault. The less you say increases your lawyer’s advantage in negotiations.

Even if you were checked out at the accident scene and you feel okay, see a doctor as soon as possible. Ideally, you will see a doctor the day of the crash. This protects your health and creates an official medical record of your car accident injuries that the insurance companies cannot deny. A doctor will provide a more thorough examination. You can go to an emergency room, clinic, or see your own doctor. Trauma care services are provided at facilities that include OhioHealth Grant Medical Center, Ohio State East, and Scioto Urgent Care.

Afterward, follow your doctor’s instructions, take medication as directed, and attend appointments with all recommended specialists and therapists. This demonstrates that you will take advantage of every opportunity to improve your health. Save copies of all medical bills, reports, documents, emails, communications, etc. This will be evidence to support your claim.

Most car insurance policies require you to notify the company soon after a car accident. This can be a difficult conversation for the injured accident victim. Say the wrong word or phrase and a crafty insurance adjuster could reduce or reject our claim.

When you report the accident to the insurance company, assume you are being recorded and do not go into detail about the accident or your injuries. Stick to the facts – names of those involved, location, date, etc. At this time, it is enough to say that your car accident injuries are being “medically treated.”

Do not provide an informal or formal statement or release private information like medical records without consulting a lawyer first. Your lawyer can draft a written statement and proofread any release from the insurance company to make sure they aren’t reaching for more information than is appropriate. If you contact a Columbus car accident attorney soon after your accident, they can handle this conversation with the insurance company for you.

Your settlement, and therefore health and financial stability, depends on the ability of your lawyer to get you the compensation you deserve. With so much on the line, don’t gamble with an unverified attorney. These attorneys know Columbus. They have gone up against many of the insurance companies that you may be dealing with and come out on top. Verified attorneys have winning track records and the experience necessary to get the results you deserve. If you were injured, contact a quality Columbus car accident lawyer for a free case consultation.