Car Accident Resources

Car accidents can result in serious injuries, death, extensive property damage, and often impact the lives of those involved in other, unforeseen ways. If you are involved in an automobile accident, you likely will have to work with your insurance provider, the insurer(s) of the other people who were part of the accident, and possibly a personal injury lawyer. It can be an overwhelming experience, particularly if serious injuries limit your day-to-day activities.

If you are in a car accident, make sure you get immediate medical attention (if necessary) and take detailed notes of the incident. FindLaw's After a Car Accident: First Steps is a great place to start. It's also a good idea to get contact information from any possible witnesses to the accident.

If you decide to file a personal injury claim, make sure you fully understand which kinds of damages you are entitled to claim.

The following resources address automobile (and motorcycle) safety, including tips on how to work with your insurer. See FindLaw's extensive Car Accidents section for additional articles and resources.

• USAGov, formerly known as the Federal Citizen Information Center - Features consumer information on cars, including pamphlets and brochures covering a wide variety of automotive topics (such as parents' guides to car safety).
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Auto Warranties and Routine Maintenance - Provides consumer education materials on automobile warranties and the importance of routine maintenance.
• Insurance Information Institute: Auto Insurance - Great introduction to automobile insurance, with information to help you choose the right policy or make a claim.
• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety/Highway Loss Data Institute (IIHS/HLDI) - Features vehicle ratings, safety facts, and publications; with special sections on airbags, impaired driving, child safety, and more.
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) - Provides crash statistics and articles about automobile accidents, product safety, and child passenger safety.
• National Safety Council (NSC): Driving information - Information about defensive driving, distracted driving, employer traffic safety, teen driving, and related topics.
• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission - Features consumer publications, product recalls, reports on unsafe products, statistics and more; including content pertaining to automobile safety.
• U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) - Features automobile statistics, dockets, rules and references; with dedicated sections on distracted driving and other vehicle safety issues.
• Motor Vehicle Safety: MedlinePlus - This service, provided by the National Institutes of Health, provides email updates on critical motor vehicle safety issues.
• The Center for Auto Safety - Organization that provides news headlines and action alerts for defective automobiles and other vehicle safety information.
• Automobile Safety Foundation - Through its CarSafe.org portal, the Automobile Safety Foundation provides news and alerts pertaining to vehicles safety and other car-related topics.
• Motorcycle Safety Foundation - Organization that develops comprehensive safety training programs for motorcyclists.
• Motorcycle Safety (NHTSA) - Motorcycle safety guide published by the NHTSA in conjunction with the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.

Get Professional Legal Help With Your Car Accident Claim

While car accidents can be devestating, sometimes it's hard to know for sure if you've been injured until much later. Not all car accidents require the help of an attorney, but most lawyers will meet with you for a free initial consultation. If you've been in a car accident and have questions about the legal process, it may be in your best interests to contact an experienced injury attorney near you.