What Should I do if I am in a Michigan Car Accident?

Here are eleven guidelines to help you in the event of a Michigan car accident:

1. Stay calm.  Do not panic or leave the scene of the car accident .
2. If possible, call the police.  If anyone is injured in the car accident, ask for emergency medical personnel. 
   
3. If the police do not come to the scene of the Michigan auto accident, report it immediately to the local police department in the community where the accident occurred.
4. Seek medical attention as soon as possible.  Often, very serious injuries are not immediately apparent. 
   
5. Obtain the following information from the other driver(s) involved in the Michigan car accident:  name, address, phone number, drivers license number (including expiration date), license plate number, registration, and insurance information, including the specific insurance policy number.
6. If the owner of the other vehicle involved in the auto accident is not the same as the driver, you should also obtain the owner's name, address, phone number, and insurance information.
7. Seek out all witnesses to the Michigan car accident and get their names, addresses, and phone numbers.  This includes passengers in vehicles involved in the car accident.
8. Promptly notify your own insurance company that you were in an auto accident.  Ask for a claim number and make clear that you wish to have a Personal Injury Protection (PIP) file opened to preserve all of your rights under your policy.  Click here to go directly to our Michigan Auto No-Fault Law section for more information on this important topic.
9. If the driver who struck you fled the scene of the Michigan auto accident, you still must make a police report and notify your insurance company immediately.  Some insurance policies require you to give notice of a claim for an accident involving an unidentified driver within 30 days of the accident.  If you are in a hit-and-run accident, consult an attorney immediately .
10. If the driver/owner of the car that struck you did not have automobile insurance (which is a violation of Michigan law), immediately notify your own insurance company that you are claiming your rights to any uninsured and/or underinsured motorist coverage.  Some insurance companies require prompt notice of these claims, and reserve the right to deny benefits to those who do not follow the strict regulations of their policies.
11. Contact our office.  If you or a loved one suffered suffered serious injuries in a Michigan auto accident, talk with an experienced Michigan auto accident lawyer.  Please submit a simple, free and confidential legal consultation form now.
    

Video: Michigan auto accident attorney Beth Bernstein-Miller explains steps you can take to protect your rights after a Michigan auto accident.

* For more information about your legal rights after a Michigan car accident, visit our special website, www.michigan-auto-accident.com, dedicated to helping Michigan auto injury victims.