Highway collisions are among the leading causes of death and permanent injury in the United States. While car accidents—caused by careless, drunk, or distracted drivers, dangerous big rigs, or someone who just didn’t see your motorcycle—happen in an instant, the decisions you make after a crash can impact your life forever.
At Anzellotti, Sperling, Pazol & Small we’ve helped thousands of people in Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana, Cuyahoga, Portage, Stark, Summit, and Ashtabula counties who have been involved in auto, truck, or motorcycle accidents rebuild their lives and dreams by fighting to ensure that they receive the compensation they need and deserve.
Much of what we’ve learned during our four decades of successfully representing auto, truck, and motorcycle accident victims is included in our new book: The Ohio Accident Guide. This important publication, which may be downloaded or ordered for free here contains valuable information that will help you protect your rights if you’ve been in an accident.
Included in our free Ohio Accident Guide are the steps you should take immediately if you’ve been in an accident:
- Notify the police.
- Get the names, addresses and telephone numbers of all drivers, owners and occupants of all involved vehicles, as well as the license plate and make, model and color of the vehicles.
- Get the names, addresses and telephone numbers of witnesses.
- Do not accept responsibility for and do not discuss the cause of the collision with anyone except the police officer at the scene.
- If you think you need medical attention, have the police officer on the scene call an ambulance or go to the nearest Emergency Room or Urgent Care Center.
- At the hospital, immediately tell the medical staff about all your injuries and advise them of every part of your body that hurts.
- See your physician.
- Call Anzellotti, Sperling, Pazol & Small as soon as you have received the medical attention you need.
It is important to note that an insurance adjuster may call you shortly after the car accident and urge you to accept a settlement. We strongly urge you to protect your rights and your ability to receive the compensation you deserve by refusing to sign any papers or agreements until you have had the opportunity to consult with legal counsel.
Remember, adjusters work for and represent the interests of the insurance company. They will try to convince you to accept a settlement by saying you should “save the cost of an attorney.” Studies have shown, however, that you are more likely to receive a just settlement if you hire experienced accident attorneys like the legal team at Anzellotti, Sperling, Pazol, & Small to represent your interests and protect your rights.