South Carolina Auto Accident Lawyers

Columbia, Lexington, Orangeburg, Sumter, Camden, Newberry, Aiken SC.

What to do in a Car Accident

There are more than six million auto accidents in the United States each year. Yet many of us do not know what to do if we have the eventually likely misfortune of becoming involved in a car accident. Here are some steps you can take:

Things to do immediately

• Check if you or other passengers are injured.
• If no one is seriously injured, move away from the roadway and activate your hazard lights or set flares to alert other drivers. Do not, however, leave the scene of the accident.
• If anyone is seriously injured and you have access to a mobile phone, emergency roadside call box, or other kind of phone nearby, call 911 and request that a police officer come to the scene.
• If you are not obviously injured, when the officer asks if you are hurt, politely tell him or her that you won't be sure until a doctor examines you. "Soft tissue" injuries sometimes take two to three days to present symptoms. For some other types of injuries, symptoms may not become evident for weeks after the accident.

Do not admit responsibility for the auto accident to anyone on scene. Limit the information you share with others (other than your attorney) to the following(and write this information down):

• Name and address of drivers and passengers
• Name of drivers' insurance companies and policy numbers
• Name and address of vehicles' registered owners
• Drivers' license numbers
• Name, address and telephone number of witnesses
• Location of the auto accident
• Description of injuries and damage to vehicles and property
• Name of police officers that responded to the scene
• Names of anyone who claimed responsibility for the accident
• If anyone appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs and the reason for your suspicions (red eyes, lack of balance, slurred speech, etc.)
  If you have a camera, photographs of the scene of the accident and of injuries

Things to do as soon as possible

• See a doctor, regardless of whether you have any symptoms. A delayed diagnosis can be detrimental to your claim or case.
• Write down your account of the auto accident and include as much detail as possible. Do this while your recollection is still fresh.
• Obtain skilled legal representation by a personal injury attorney; in most car accident cases, this will be in your best interest.

If you have any questions regarding your car accident claim or lawsuit, please contact our auto accident lawyers in South Carolina today at the Law Firm of McWhirter, Bellinger & Associates. One of our auto accident lawyers can give you a free case evaluation, regardless of whereabouts in South Carolina your accident occurred.

With offices in Aiken, Camden, Columbia, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg, and Sumter, South Carolina, our personal injury lawyers are ready to serve you. Call us today at 1-800-694-0994.