5 Things You Must Do After a Car Accident
No one ever expects to have an auto accident. Unfortunately, these events are a part of life. So it’s best to be prepared.
Car accidents happen suddenly and can cause tons of damage to your vehicle, and result in serious injury, even death.
So what should you do when you’re involved in a car accident? This article takes a look at 5 things you need to know, so keep reading to learn the important details.
1. Stay at the Accident Scene
The first thing you need to remember is to never leave the scene of an auto accident. If it occurred on a busy roadway and your car is still drivable, consider moving it to the side of the road. But it’s best to leave everything as is until the police arrive and can evaluate the scene.
2. Call the Police
The next thing you need to do is call 911 to report the accident. This is especially important if there are any injuries. The police will come, and if necessary they will send an ambulance.
The police are responsible for assessing responsibility and filling out the accident report. This is important for insurance purposes and for determining traffic fines.
photo/ Gerd Altmann via pixabay
3. Take Pictures of the Accident Scene
Insurance companies need all the information they can get to accurately determine the extent of damage to the vehicles involved in the accident.
Fortunately, many people now own smartphones with cameras, so there’s no reason not to be able to properly document the accident scene with high-quality digital photos.
Take care to get photos from different angles so that the damage can be seen clearly.
4. Exchange Information with the Other Driver
Once you’ve gotten out of your vehicle, making sure that everyone at the scene is safe and called the police, it’s important to exchange information with the other motorist involved in the accident.
This includes insurance information and phone numbers.
In the moments following an accident, you will likely be in shock, disoriented by what has happened, and the situation might be a bit chaotic as everyone involved tries to agree on exactly what occurred. But it’s vital to make sure that information gets exchanged before either of the motorists leaves the scene.
5. Contact an Attorney
Now it’s crucial to contact a good personal injury attorney as soon as possible. An attorney will be very familiar with every aspect of what to expect and how to proceed. This is the best way to make certain that your rights are protected.
What to do When You’re Involved in Car Accidents
Car accidents are scary. This is something no one want to experience, yet thousands of auto accidents happen each day.
The best way to prepare for an accident is to understand ahead of time what to do if this happens to you. A smart motorist will keep the necessary documents in their glove box and this list handy so that you can act quickly.
Click here to learn when and why to contact a car accident lawyer as soon as possible.
Author: Laura Brown
