Car accidents happen daily in Ottawa (Ontario) and often cause personal injury, prolonged pain, and lasting post-accident stress. With jobs, family time, and enjoyment of life on the line, one has to remember that the only way to get full compensation, is to have a professional accident and personal injury lawyer represent the case.
However, in the chaos of a car accident, the people involved do not often take the proper steps to protect their rights or collect evidence for insurance or personal injury purposes. This type of information carries a big weight in many of Ottawa’s accident lawsuits.
If you forget to gather the correct information, and in the stress of the situation forget to contact a lawyer specializing in car accidents, the long-term financial consequences could be devastating to you and your family
Here are some quick tips you can follow to protect yourself after you have been involved in an car accident in Ottawa:
Check for Injuries
If it is safe to do so, move your car out of the way of traffic. Otherwise, put on your hazard lights. Next, assess yourself for any injuries. Also check with any other passengers in your vehicle and the other vehicle(s) involved in the accident. Call 911 immediately if anyone is injured or not responding.
Call a Personal Injury Law Firm
If you are injured, now is the time to call a personal injury law firm. An Ottawa car accident lawyer can help you take the proper steps right from the beginning to document your injuries and protect your rights in case you have to make a personal injury claim.
Call the Police
If you have had a car accident in the Ottawa area, the Ontario Highway Traffic Act requires that you contact the Police if there has been more than $1000 in damages, there has been a personal injury, or if a criminal offence such as driving under the influence has been committed. Call the Police regardless so that in the event that you need to use the services of an Ottawa car accident lawyer, you will have a record of the accident.
Record Information
Record the names, contact information and insurance of all people involved in the car accident, as well as any witnesses. You should also obtain the make and model of the cars involved, license plate numbers, and the location of the accident. If you have a camera, take photos of the accident scene.
See your Doctor
See your doctor as soon as possible after the accident. You should do this whether you think you have any injuries from the accident or not. If you do have a noticeable injury, your doctor will document it and be able to confirm that it is from a recent accident. And they will be able to do a physical assessment to find any injuries that you are not immediately aware of.
If you find yourself in a car accident, remember to follow the above steps to protect your rights and to collect evidence in case you have to make a personal injury claim. And if you do at some point find yourself injured in a car accident in Ottawa, enlist the services of a personal injury law firm.
Our Ottawa personal injury lawyers are experts in personal injury claims, and will be able to ensure you receive all of the compensation you are entitled to after a collision.
