With snow and ice pushing crash risks higher across southeast Michigan, Lawrence Kajy, CEO of Kajy Law Firm, says the first minutes after a collision can shape health outcomes and insurance claims for months.
“The first thing that you need to do is make sure that everyone’s safe,” Kajy said during an appearance on Live in the D. “Then you need to get out of harm’s way. This is particularly important in Michigan in wintertime because secondary accidents are so much more common.”
Once vehicles are moved to a safe spot, Kajy said, call police to document the crash. “Make sure they come out so they can do a report, gather all the information, and that way you have the other driver’s information, their insurance, everything that you need.”
Even if injuries aren’t immediately obvious, he urged drivers to get evaluated. “In the winter, adrenaline and cold weather can sometimes mask some injuries that you have, especially to the back and neck,” he said. “You want to make sure you get medical treatment, get checked out if you need to.”
The final step, Kajy said, is to consult an attorney to help navigate claims and deadlines. “If an insurance company tries to refuse to pay, you need to call a lawyer immediately,” he said. “They will try to find any reason not to pay. At my firm in particular, we’re over 90% successful when an insurance company refuses to pay, they sign up with us and we get them to pay.”
Hit-and-run incidents can add confusion and danger, Kajy said, urging drivers to avoid escalating a bad situation. “Do not chase the other driver,” he said. “Pull over to the side of the road, call the police, and try to remember as much information as you can - the car make, model, color, maybe a description of the other driver. If you have good memory, maybe try to remember the license plate.”
Beyond crash response, Kajy is backing prevention. Through the Kajy Law Drivers Education Scholarship Fund in partnership with Motor City Driving Academy, the firm is funding weekly driver education scholarships for teens. “To me, I think this is the first step in terms of making the community safer,” Kajy said. “This is the first time you’re learning how to drive, what to do, what not to do. It’s important not to pick up bad habits when you’re doing this because those can stay with you for the rest of your life.”
To watch the segment, click on the video above. For details on how to enter for a chance to win a free driving course at Motor City Driving Academy, courtesy of Kajy Law, click here. To reach Kajy Law, click this link or call 877-KAJY-CARES.