What to do if you are in a motor vehicle accident.

Millions of car accidents happen every year and the Portland Metro area has one of the worst car accident rates of any city in the US. According to Allstate insurance company Portland is 181 out 200 cities ranked for accidents.  If you are in a motor vehicle accident there are some things you should always do.

• Do not leave the scene, stay to make reports and collect driver info.
• Determine if anyone needs medical attention.
• Protect yourself and the scene of the accident.
• Call the police. You will need the police report for insurance claims.
• Give an accurate report of the accident but do not admit any responsibility.
• If you are not sure you are injured, tell the police you are not sure, don’t say you are not injured if unsure.
• Take pictures.
• Exchange information with the other driver(s).
• Contact your insurance company as soon as possible.
• Get medical attention as soon as possible. Some injuries do not manifest until a day or two after the accident and some may take even longer to show up.
• Create a file for all your accident related papers and information.
• Get legal help from a personal injury attorney.

It is important to seek medical care soon after an accident for a variety of reasons. If you wait too long your insurance may attribute your injuries to another cause and will not pay for the care you need. Some injuries, especially head injuries may not seem like a big deal in the moment, but they can have bad outcomes if not addressed in a timely manner.

It is important to contact your insurance company immediately by calling the emergency claims number. Calling from the scene of the accident may be a good idea, sometimes the police can give the insurance company better information than you can, especially if you have been shaken up by the accident.

After the accident your job is to collect information and facts, and not get involved in any discussion about the accident beyond what is necessary. If the other party wants you to admit fault or tries to get you to do things without insurance, do not commit to anything. Remember, when at the scene of the accident you don’t know the person you are dealing with, or what kind of insurance they have, so stick to the facts to protect yourself.

Emerge Natural Health Care offers an integrative health team including Chiropractic, Naturopathic Medicine, Acupuncture, Mental Health Counseling, and Therapeutic Massage for those who have been injured in a motor vehicle accident. We specialize in non-opioid pain relief, decreased pain, improved recovery times, and use a comprehensive blend of modern diagnostics and natural treatments in support of your whole-person health. We have friendly, professional staff members dedicated to making it as easy as possible to navigate billing and administrative needs. If you have been in an accident and need medical care please contact us today at (360) 787-3615