Motor Vehicle Accidents

Ideally, drivers — and anyone who travels frequently by car, even as a passenger — should have a plan of action in mind in the event of a car accident. Just as fire drills prepare people for the possible need to escape a burning building in a hurry, so too can contingency plans in case of a crash be useful in an emergency.

If you have the luxury of pondering these points before an accident has occurred, it can help reinforce your own contingency plans. If you or a family member has just been injured in a crash, perhaps the list below can be of more immediate help. In any case, Frederick & Hagle extends an invitation to people injured in car accidents in Bloomington, Decatur, Champaign or elsewhere in central Illinois to contact us for more personalized advice.

After a car accident in Bloomington — or anywhere, we recommend the following steps to take:

• Seek medical help promptly.
• Take photos of any visible injuries.
• Do not give a statement to your insurance company before you have consulted with an attorney.
• Cooperate with police at the scene of the accident, but do exercise your right to consult with an attorney before submitting to any lengthy interrogations.
• Take photos of the vehicle. If possible, get information about where a car is being towed and how to contact whoever will be in charge of receiving, keeping or disposing of it. Remind whoever tows or stores your car that it is your car and they cannot dispose of it without your permission.
• Get contact information for any eyewitnesses, if possible.
• Get quality legal counsel and guidance as soon as possible — ideally, in time to help you navigate interactions with various parties such as medical providers, insurers, police investigators and private investigators.
• Do not talk about the accident with the other driver or his or her family members until you are represented by an attorney.
• Do not post information about the accident on social media. It is all right to let your family and friends know about personal well-being after an accident, but it is likely not in your best interest to put on public record any discussion of the circumstances of the crash beyond the basics of when and where it occurred.

Remember that there is no risk in contacting our law firm for advice after a car accident in Bloomington or anywhere in the central Illinois area. If we represent you, we will do so on a contingency basis only. You will not owe us attorneys’ fees until and unless we help you recover compensation.

What To Do After An Auto Accident In Bloomington: Seek Medical Help — Take Photos — Contact An Attorney

To learn whether you have a case after a car accident, contact Frederick & Hagle to schedule a free initial consultation with a lawyer. Call us toll free at 1-800-642-1227 for an appointment. We can visit you at home or in the hospital if necessary — there is no need for you to come to our Urbana office.