Over six million car accidents occur each year in the United States. Fortunately, most of them involve only damage to the vehicle as opposed to the occupants. But accidents often involve personal injury to the driver or passengers and some car accidents even lead to fatal injuries.If you are involved in an automobile accident, there are certain things you can do to protect yourself and your interests. The following is a list of important things you should do if you are in an automobile accident:1. STOP. Never drive away from the scene of an accident, even a minor one.2. PROTECT THE SCENE. You can prevent further accidents by setting up flares, or keeping your flashers on. If it is dark and your lights don't work, you should have a flashlight to keep you safe while you wait in your disabled car or by the side of the road.3. CALL THE POLICE. Even if there are no serious injuries, it is a good idea to call the police. You may need a police report to file a claim with your insurance company, even if it is just to make a claim for damage to your vehicle. The vehicles involved in the accident should remain where they are, unless they interfere with traffic. Also, take photos before moving the vehicle, if you can safely do so.4. MAKE AN ACCURATE REPORT. When the police arrive, make sure you tell the investigating officer(s) exactly what happened, to the best of your ability. If you do not know certain facts, tell that to the officer. Do not speculate, guess or misstate any of the facts. If you are asked if you are injured and you are not sure, say you are not sure, rather than no. Often, the pain and injuries from motor vehicle accidents become apparent hours after the actual collision. You should also make sure statements made by other persons involved in the accident are accurate as well.5. TAKE PHOTOS. If you happen to have a camera in your vehicle, or a cell phone equipped with a camera, you should take pictures of the scene and the vehicle damages. If you have visible injuries, you should photograph them as well. However, you should in no way interfere with the on-going police investigation. If you cannot take pictures at the scene of the accident, take them as soon as possible after the accident.6. EXCHANGE INFORMATION. Even though the investigating police officer usually obtains this information, you should take down information yourself if you can. If the police do not respond to the accident, you should obtain the name, address and telephone number of all persons involved in the accident, drivers and passengers alike. You should ask the driver for his driver's license number and write down all license plate numbers. You can also take photos of all important documents and license plates. You should also obtain information about insurance by asking to see the insurance card for all vehicles involved in the accident. If there are witnesses, you should get information from them as well so that you or your attorney can contact them in the future. If police respond to the accident, the investigating officer usually will provide all drivers with a police report number. You can use that number later to obtain the police report. If the accident occurs on a state highway, you must request the report from the state police.7. REPORT THE ACCIDENT TO YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY. Notify your insurance company as soon as possible. Many policies require immediate reporting and full cooperation. However, you should not provide a recorded statement or sign any documents until you consult an attorney. Find out if you have medical benefits as part of your insurance coverage. You pay extra for that type of coverage - known as "medpay" - so you should use it. Medpay benefits are available to all the occupants of the vehicle. Your insurance rates should not increase as a result of submitting claims for medpay coverage.8. SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. Often, injuries caused by motor vehicle accidents are not immediately apparent. Most of our clients report feeling the most pain a day or two following an automobile accident. Unless you are absolutely certain you were not injured, you should seek medical attention at your local emergency room or by seeing your family physician. Even in accidents involving minor impact, you can sustain a serious and permanent injury to your spinal cord. If you lost consciousness or were dazed for even a short period of time following the collision, you may have suffered a concussion or closed head injury. This can cause cognitive and behavioral changes if left untreated.9. KEEP A FILE. Keep all your accident-related documents and information together. This information should include a claim number, the claims adjuster who is handling the claim, names and phone numbers of all contacts, receipts for a rental car and other expenses incurred as a result of the accident.10. PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS. Perhaps the most important thing you should do after an accident is to consult your attorney, who can protect your rights and make sure valuable evidence is not destroyed. Often, insurance companies want to take statements immediately after an accident. You may not be required to provide a statement. You should receive legal advice before providing such a statement. Your attorney can advise you on issues ranging from how to make sure you are fully compensated for your vehicle to how to make sure you are getting the best medical treatment available. Personal injury attorneys generally work on a contingency fee basis, which means there is no legal fee unless the attorney recovers compensation for your injuries and losses.

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