314,921 car accidents were reported last year in Michigan. While that is close to 892 accidents every day, nobody ever wants to think it can happen to them, but it does. Being prepared in advance is the best way to make sure that you know what to do if it happens to you. Here are the top 6 things you need to do after a car accident to ensure full compensation for your injuries!
Make a Police Report
This point seems obvious, but you would be surprised how many people would rather get to work, school, or to their meeting than wait for the police to arrive! However, a police report is crucial for many reasons. First, your insurance company is usually going to want an objective and independent verification that the accident took place. Police will also interview witnesses, get vehicle and insurance information and usually assess who was at fault for the accident and why. Additionally, the police note if any of the parties were injured and the extent of the damage to the vehicles. All this information will help you when you are dealing with your insurance company after the accident while also creating an important piece of evidence should you ever have to file a lawsuit. You can usually purchase a copy of the report from the traffic crash purchasing system if your auto accident was investigated by the Michigan State Police.
Don’t Change The Scene / Take Pictures
Moving your car or removing debris after an accident can be a big mistake. In a lot of accidents fault or liability is a major factor in determining whether you can receive compensation. If the cars have been moved before any photo’s can be taken or any drawings can be performed by the police, it will make it seriously difficult to prove your story. The best thing to do, is first, not to move your car or disturb the scene until police or emergency workers arrive. The next best thing is to take pictures of the scene. This removes all subjectivity around where the cars ended up and in a lot ways demonstrates how the accident happened. It also demonstrates the extent of damage to your vehicle. This will be very important when you make a claim to have the damage to your vehicle paid for by your insurance company.
Document Your Own Injuries
Make a First Party Insurance Claim
Making a claim for your injuries and or damage to your vehicle is very important in Michigan. Because we are a no-fault state, the first claim you are going to make is to your own insurance company. We call this your 1st party, because they are usually first to pay you benefits. You need to call up your own insurance company and tell them about your injuries, the damage to your vehicle, if you are missing work, if you need help doing chores around the house, and if you need someone to help you with nursing care, like getting dressed, bathed, or helping you with your wounds. Almost always this information will be placed on a form called an application for no-fault benefits. It is paramount that you list all your problems and all your injuries, so that the insurance company does not come back later and attempt to say one of your problems must have occurred after the accident because you didn’t list it originally on the form.
Get Medical Treatment
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer
An accident lawyer can help you all along the way with the process. We know what steps to take and how make sure that you are going to get full compensation for your injuries. Michigan’s complicated No-fault law has a lot of pit falls and the insurance company will use that to their advantage. They will try to trip you up and make laughable offers hoping you don’t know the difference or what rights you are giving up, rights that in many cases could literally affect you and financial health for the rest of your life.
- Where Do Most Personal Injuries Happen in Lansing? A Local Guide to High-Risk Places - April 21, 2025
- What Michigan Drivers Get Wrong About Bicycle Accidents - April 18, 2025
- Injured While Biking Near Campus? Your Rights After a Crash at MSU - April 17, 2025