Car Accident - What to do after a car accident? Ottawa personal injury lawyers - Marc Quinn

As personal injury lawyers, we receive hundreds of calls each year from accident victims asking what they should do first following an accident. In general terms, the following are steps that should be followed after being injured in a motor vehicle or other accident:

1. Obtain immediate medical attention. When at hospital, insist that all of your symptoms be investigated by the treating health care providers. Ask for a copy of the emergency records (notes and records of the hospital) upon your departure from hospital.

2. If approached by strangers (either at hospital or at the scene of the accident), claiming to be "investigators" for anyone, be it a law firm or insurance company, avoid speaking to them. Often, the “investigators” work for the party responsible for your accident. Only YOUR personal injury lawyers will act in your best interests.

3. Always insist that the police attend the scene and that an accident report is prepared and filed with the police. Ask for a copy of the police report.

4. If possible, take as many pictures of the accident scene as possible, including photos of the witnesses, cars involved, injuries, conditions of the road, etc... When it comes to photos, the more the better. If you do not have a camera available, ask for one from someone nearby, use a disposable camera, use your cell phone or someone else’ cell phone.

5. If there are witnesses available, ask for their full contact particulars.

6. Ask for the other operator’s driver’s licence number and insurance documents, including the name of their insurer and their policy number.

7. Call Marc-Nicholas Quinn of Plant Quinn Thiele LLP - Ottawa Car Accident Lawyers at 613-315-4878.

8. Write down the names, addresses and phone numbers of any witnesses who can support your case. Insurance companies will try to claim you were not even at the scene.

At Plant Quinn Thiele LLP, Ottawa Personal Injury Lawyers, we specialize in personal injury cases. We provide free no obligation consultations and work on a No Fee Unless You Win basis (called contingency fee arrangements in the Province of Ontario).

Marc-Nicholas Quinn, Lawyer and Mediator