Steps to Take After a Nashville Sideswipe Accident

Posted in Car accidents on January 31, 2024

Sideswipe accidents happen when the side of one vehicle strikes, scrapes, or otherwise makes contact with the side of another vehicle. These types of incidents can occur in a variety of settings, including in regular roadway traffic, in parking lots, at intersections, and any other areas where vehicles are likely to come into close proximity. After these incidents occur, victims may experience injuries, and they likely have to deal with property damage. Here, we want to review the basic steps Nashville residents and visitors can take after a sideswipe incident occurs.

Immediate Actions at the Scene of a Sideswipe Accident

At the scene of a sideswipe accident, there may be a significant amount of confusion. However, the number one priority is your health and well-being. Check for any injuries on yourself or any passengers in your vehicle after the sideswipe accident occurs. If you are able to safely do so, check on others involved in the incident.

You need to dial 911 and let the dispatcher know that the accident has occurred and where you are. Give as much information as you can over the phone about how many people may have sustained injuries so the dispatcher can send the correct number of emergency medical vehicles to your location.

Gathering Evidence and Information Post-Accident

It may be possible to gather evidence at the scene of the sideswipe collision, but not always. Do not try and gather evidence if it is not safe for you to do so. If your vehicle is near traffic, you may need to try to safely get the vehicle to the side of the road or farther on the shoulder. However, if the vehicles are disabled or you are in an otherwise unsafe situation, get yourself off of the roadway and somewhere safe nearby.

If the situation allows, you can use your phone or another type of device to take photographs of everything you see, including injuries, property damage, weather patterns, traffic conditions, debris and skid marks, and more. If there were any eyewitnesses or drivers and passengers in other vehicles who may have stopped, get their names and contact information. Eyewitnesses can help provide valuable information to insurance carriers or during a personal injury trial.

It is unlikely you will be able to gather all the evidence needed at the scene of the incident. Typically, law enforcement officials and firefighters like to get a scene cleared up as quickly as possible so traffic can resume. You may need assistance from an attorney to help uncover additional types of evidence, depending on the trajectory of the case. Other evidence could include vehicle black box data, mobile device data, vehicle maintenance records, a driver’s driving record, and more.

Reporting the Accident to Authorities and Insurance

As we mentioned above, the police need to come to the scene of the incident. Let the law enforcement officials conduct a preliminary investigation and issue any citations if they are warranted. You will need the accident report when you start the insurance claims process.

You should report the incident to your auto insurance carrier as soon as possible. When you make your initial report, do not go into much detail. All the insurance carrier needs to know at this point is that the incident occurred, the names and contact information of others involved, and that you are seeking medical treatment for your injuries.

Seeking Medical Attention for Potential Injuries

Any vehicle accident victim in Nashville should go to the doctor the same day the incident occurred, even if injuries are not obvious. Sometimes, sideswipe accident injuries do not appear until hours or days after the incident occurs. Seeking prompt medical care not only establishes a strong link between the incident and any injuries that arise, but it also helps ensure your well-being is the priority.

Sideswipe accident victims should continue all medical treatment recommended by their medical professionals. Any early discontinuation of medical treatment against the advice of your doctor could jeopardize your claim. For example, if you stop going to medical visits for a week or two because you begin to feel better but then continue treatment again a few weeks later, this discontinuation of care could be taken as a sign by the insurance carriers that your injuries are not as severe as you claim.

Continue medical treatment until your doctor says that your condition is unlikely to improve additionally with continued care.

Consulting with a Nashville Auto Accident Attorney

A skilled Nashville car accident lawyer can examine the facts of your particular accident and discuss your best options for recovering compensation. You contact a lawyer for assistance with your case, the better. If you are able to do so the day the incident occurs, contact a lawyer and set up a free consultation. 

When an attorney gets involved in your case, you will have an advocate with the resources needed to conduct a full investigation into the incident. Your lawyer will handle all communication with the insurance carriers, and they will negotiate with other parties to receive compensation on your behalf.

Your lawyer will fully prepare your claim for trial, even if you expect to receive a quick settlement. The reality is that insurance carriers will fight having to pay out fair compensation, but when you have an advocate by your side, your claim is more likely to find success.

Understanding Your Rights and Compensation Claims

If another driver caused your crash, you have the right to compensation. Typically, this includes both economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages after a sideswipe accident include calculable expenses that victims are likely to incur, such as medical bills, lost income, property damage expenses, out-of-pocket expenses, and more.

Non-economic damages include more immeasurable types of losses A sideswipe accident victim will likely incur. This includes compensation for their physical and emotional pain and suffering as well as any loss of quality of life caused by the injuries and any disability.