Steps To Take After A Car Accident In Cheyenne, WY

Protect Yourself

After a crash, the risk of being involved in a second crash is high in many cases. As such, you should do everything reasonably possible to protect yourself and others from a second accident. Accomplishing this may be as simple as moving your vehicle or yourself out of the road or street. 

If moving your vehicle is impossible due to damage or other circumstances, you still have the power to make the situation safer. By placing flares or reflective triangles in the road before the crash scene, you can effectively warn other drivers that an accident is upcoming.

Remember that even if you are the victim in a car accident, your actions post-accident could make you the offender in a second car accident. For example, if you are rear-ended through no fault of your own but leave your car in the middle of the road too long, you may be held liable for an accident that happens as a result.

Contact First Responders

Dialing 9-1-1 for all accident injuries is wise for a number of reasons. Even if the injury seems mild, it is always a good idea to get it evaluated on the spot. Calling 9-1-1 will also summon one or more police officers, who will likely take an accident report and gather evidence. 

This report and any other reports filed by first responders can serve as powerful evidence in subsequent compensation claims. 

Exchange Information

Under Wyoming law, drivers involved in accidents must exchange relevant information with one another, including:

• Driver’s license information
• Contact information
• Vehicle information
• Insurance information

During this exchange, drivers should try to be as cordial as possible. However, if the situation involves a driver experiencing road rage, it may be wise to avoid the driver altogether until they cool down. In other words, exchanging information with the other driver is important but not at the cost of your safety.

Take Photos And Video Footage

If possible, you should take the time to snap photos and record video footage of the accident. In a future compensation claim, you will need hard evidence to back up your allegations and the damages you claim. Photos and video footage are among the strongest types of evidence you can have, especially when taken from a fresh accident scene. 

When capturing images, make sure to keep a steady hand and focus on things that may be important to your future claim, such as:

• The condition and position of the vehicles
• Road conditions
• Weather conditions
• Injuries
• Skid marks 
• Parties’ behaviors, such as intoxication or drowsiness

Later, when you meet with an attorney, these images can help them to get you the damages you deserve more efficiently. 

Report The Accident

Wyoming has an accident-reporting law requiring all drivers involved in certain types of automobile crashes to report the crash to the appropriate authorities within a specific time. Crashes involving at least $1,000 in damage, bodily injury, or death fall under the reporting requirements. 

However, as of 2013, this obligation to report does not require the reporter to fill out a crash accident form. Instead, it only requires informing the nearest law enforcement agency as quickly as possible. 

Meet With An Experienced Car Accident Attorney In Cheyenne

Finally, meeting with an experienced car accident lawyer should be one of your first priorities after receiving stabilizing medical treatment for being hit in a car accident. The sooner you get a lawyer involved, the stronger your case will likely be. 

Additionally, acting quickly to hire counsel can also ensure that you meet the state’s statute of limitations for car accidents. In Wyoming, accident victims have four years to file a lawsuit or settle their claim. Failure to beat the clock typically means the loss of the right to compensation. 

Don’t Wait To Protect Your Future After A Cheyenne, WY, Car Crash

If you have been in an auto accident, an experienced auto accident lawyer can protect your interests and work tirelessly to recover the funds you deserve. Don’t accept lowball insurance company offers; let a Cheyenne car accident attorney from Bachus & Schanker fight to get you the maximum.