Your Cell Phone is a Helpful Tool After an Alaska Car Accident

The dangers of cell phone use while driving are well-documented, and government officials have been studying the effects of texting, talking, and related activities for several years. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) reports that there are nine traffic fatalities every day linked to distracted driving. However, as dangerous as it can be to interact with a cell phone while operating a vehicle, your device becomes a very powerful tool after a vehicle crash.

It may seem unlikely, but the truth is that your cell phone goes a long way to supporting your medical needs and your legal rights if you were injured in a crash. Certain information you collect at the scene will be very important to yourAnchorage car accident lawyer, who can use it to develop a legal strategy for recovering monetary damages. The following points will help you understand your phone’s usefulness.

Call 911. If you are able, you should grab your phone and dial 911, use an emergency mobile app, or trigger your phone’s auto-dial feature. Some devices will even prompt you to push a button when they sense a collision, and will automatically dial 911 if you do not respond.

Take Pictures. You can also use your device to grab photos of details, evidence, and features at the scene that could support your rights in an auto collision claim. Try to take images of:

  • Damage to vehicles;
  • Your injuries;
  • The intersection or stretch of road;
  • Lights, signage, lane markings, and other traffic controls; and,
  • Any other details that might be relevant.

 

Capture Video. In some cases, there may be evidence or information that you can capture best by using your phone’s video function. This format may be helpful for showing traffic conditions, weather, or related contributing factors.

Exchange Contact Information. Drivers are required by law to provide contact and insurance details after a car accident, and your cell phone is the perfect tool to collect this information. Make sure to talk to all drivers involved in the collision, not just the at-fault motorist.

Screening the Insurer’s Calls. You use the ignore function when you cannot take a call or do not feel like answering, and this is a feature to employ if the at-fault driver’s insurer reaches out. The agent is probably trying to get a statement from you or convince you to settle quickly. Your attorney will handle communications with an insurance company, so you should screen the call. If you do opt to answer, your best move is to pass along your lawyer’s details.

Contacting an Alaska Car Accident Attorney to Discuss Legal Options

Once you receive essential care and your health has stabilized, the next application for your cell phone should be reaching out to an experienced auto crash lawyer. Our team at Power & Power Law will tackle the necessary tasks to ensure you receive fair compensation, so please contact us to schedule a free consultation. You can call our offices in Anchorage, Alaska, at 907-222-9990 or visit us online.