What to do Before & After an Accident

Knowing what to do before and after an accident can make a major difference in protecting yourself, your family, and your ability to recover compensation if you are injured.

Being involved in an accident can be overwhelming. In those first few moments, it can be difficult to know what to do to protect yourself—both immediately and in the weeks and months that follow.

The truth is, some of the most important decisions are made long before an accident ever happens. Taking a few simple steps today can spare you unnecessary stress, financial hardship, and frustration if the unexpected occurs.

Here's what every driver should know before they ever need it.

How to Protect Yourself Before an Accident

No one expects to be involved in an accident, but taking a few steps ahead of time can make a major difference if something happens. The decisions you make before an accident ever occurs can help protect your health, your finances, and your ability to recover compensation if you are injured.

Here are some important steps you can take to protect yourself.

Review Your Insurance Coverage Before an Accident Happens

Many people do not review their insurance coverage until after they are already injured. By then, it may be too late to change the protections available to you.

Make Sure You Have Full Tort Coverage

If you have auto insurance in Pennsylvania, make sure you understand whether you have full tort coverage or limited tort coverage.

Limited tort coverage can significantly restrict your ability to recover compensation for pain and suffering after an accident. It does not completely eliminate your rights, but it can make recovering compensation much more difficult.

Make Sure You Have Uninsured Motorist Coverage

Uninsured motorist coverage protects you if you are injured by a driver who does not have insurance or if you are involved in a hit-and-run accident.

Without this coverage, you may have limited options for recovering compensation when the person responsible for your injuries cannot pay.

Make Sure You Have Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Underinsured motorist coverage is similar to uninsured motorist coverage, but it applies when the at-fault driver has insurance that is not enough to fully compensate you for your injuries.

For example, if someone causes a serious accident but only has the minimum insurance coverage required by law, their policy may not come close to covering your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Consider Adding Collision Coverage

Collision coverage helps protect you if your vehicle is damaged in an accident.

Getting the at-fault driver's insurance company to pay for property damage is not always simple or immediate. Even when they eventually pay, Pennsylvania's minimum required property damage coverage is only $5,000, which often is not enough to repair or replace many modern vehicles.

Why Preparation Matters

The steps you take before an accident happens can make a significant difference. Having the right insurance coverage, documenting evidence, and knowing your rights can help protect you when you need it most.

If you have questions about your coverage or have already been injured, our team is here to help.

Contact Our Firm

Know What to Do After an Accident Happens

Even if you are prepared with the right insurance coverage, knowing what to do immediately after an accident is critical.

Report the Accident and Document Your Injuries

If you are injured in an accident, whether it is a car crash, slip and fall, or another type of incident, report it and make sure your injuries are documented.

If police respond, let them know if you are hurt so your injuries are reflected in the report. If you need medical attention, seek it. This is not the time to downplay your injuries or try to "tough it out."

Get the Other Person's Information

Before leaving the scene, get as much information as possible, including:

Name and contact information
Driver's license information
Insurance information
License plate number

Even if there is a police report, details can sometimes be missed or recorded incorrectly. Protect yourself by collecting this information while you are still at the scene.

Take Photos and Preserve Evidence

Pictures can be extremely important after an accident.

For a car accident, take photos of:

Your vehicle and the damage
The other vehicle and the damage
License plates
Insurance information
The surrounding area

For a slip and fall, take photos of:

The location where you fell
The condition that caused the fall
Your injuries
Your surroundings, including signs, addresses, or business names
The more evidence you preserve early, the better protected you will be later.

Do Not Delay Medical Treatment

If you are injured, do not wait to seek medical attention.

Even a delay of hours or days can impact your recovery and may affect your ability to obtain compensation for your injuries.

Be Careful When Speaking With Insurance Companies

Do not provide a recorded statement to an insurance company before understanding your rights.

Insurance companies may use statements made early in the process to challenge or minimize your claim later. Even if you believe you did nothing wrong, what you say can impact your ability to recover compensation.

Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney

If you have been injured in an accident, contacting an attorney as soon as possible can help protect your rights and your claim.

We will guide you through the process and fight to make sure you receive the compensation you deserve, including compensation for:

Medical bills
Lost wages
Pain and suffering
Other damages caused by your injuries

You pay nothing upfront, and we do not get paid unless we recover compensation for you.

What Our Clients Say

"Auto Injury"
Praveen Kumar, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"I had the pleasure of working with Sarkis as my attorney for an auto injury case, and I couldn't be more satisfied with the outcome. From the very beginning, Sarkis demonstrated professionalism, expertise, and genuine care for my situation. He guided me through every step of the process, always keeping me informed and ensuring that my best interests were a priority. Sarkis worked diligently to settle my case, and his dedication truly paid off. The settlement exceeded my expectation, and I am grateful for his hard work and persistence. If you're looking for a knowledgeable and compassionate attorney who will fight for you, I highly recommend Sarkis. He made a challenging time much easier, and I'm thankful for his support."

"BEST personal injury lawyer!!!"
Cristine, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"Unfortunately, this was one of the worst car accidents I have been in. Being a new resident of the state of PA and not knowing the laws, I was terrified of the long road ahead. While I thought the recovery would also be a long road, Sarkis made it extremely easy throughout my entire case. I can't thank you enough for all your hard work, constant communication, positivity, and, most importantly, diligence to ensure success in my case. If you are considering hiring a PI lawyer, please do not think twice. Sarkis is the BEST there is."

"Helped me when no one else would" Nicole, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"I was in a bad accident in August of 2022, which was entirely caused by the negligence of the other driver. I spoke with one rude Lawyer in person and spoke with four additional Lawyers on the phone. No one would take my case or help me, even though the accident wasn't my fault, because I had been in additional accidents. One Lawyer said I would be lucky if I received a settlement of $2,000 and that he didn't want to "waste his time with me". I felt discouraged but I didn't give up. I was serendipitously referred to Attorney Sarkis Dramgotchian. I sustained a concussion in the car accident because my car flipped. I could barely speak coherently to Sarkis when we first spoke on the phone. He listened and was patient with me. He took my case because he actually cares. He's a good person, which is rare in this world. Sarkis is realistic and honest. He answers phone calls and text messages. He's polite. He's respectful and keeps you posted every step of the way while he fights for you. I typically do not like people and he's genuinely likable. I highly recommend this Attorney. You will not be disappointed. He was able to successfully advocate for me and I’m confident that he'll be able to do that for you too. I'm sincerely grateful as wells thankful to him because due to this settlement, I'll be able to continue treatments denied by my insurance. I have hope that I can be whole again amidst a terrible experience in life with the means to get better now because someone with the right expertise fought for me, when I couldn't fight for myself. Words cannot express my full gratitude. To anyone reading this after a car accident--don't give us and give Attorney Sarkis a call to review your case."