7 Steps You Should Do After A Car Accident

Every year, the number of vehicular accidents continues to rise. If you’re part of a minor fender bender or a serious collision, it can be a distressing ordeal, especially if it’s your first time. One way to be ready for one is to learn the steps you need to take.

A vehicular accident is a distressing ordeal for anyone. If you want to go through the legal processes with less hassle on your part and ensure a good outcome, you should consider working with a professional. If you happen to be part of a car accident, it might be best to ask a car accident lawyer for legal advice.

If you’re part of a car accident, here are the crucial steps you need to take after the ordeal:

1. Check For Injuries

After the accident, avoid leaving the site, even if it’s a minor one. Always remember that your priority is safety, and the rest will follow. You need to check if everyone is okay, and seek medical assistance if you or your passengers need help.

2. Move Your Vehicle To A Safe Location

If you didn’t sustain any injury and the accident is a minor one, you need to move your vehicle to the side of the road to prevent disruptions to the traffic flow.

Switch on the hazard lights and position reflective triangles to alert passing drivers to slow down. However, if the accident is severe or if anyone sustains injuries, leave the vehicles where they are.

Remember that even if you don’t have injuries, take extra care when moving out of your vehicle, especially if the accident is on a bustling street or highway. In most cases, you’re not thinking right, which can put you in danger.

3. Call The Authorities

Call the police immediately to report the road accident. Upon the arrival of the police on the scene, you should note down the responding officer’s name, badge number, and contact information.

4. Gather Important Information

One of the critical things you need to do is to gather information. You can use your mobile phone to take photos of documents, or write down the name, address, driver’s license, and contact details of everyone involved.

Gather all the vehicle details, such as the year, make and model, license plate number, color, and vehicle identification number. Get the insurance policy number and company’s contact details if the other party failed to report the accident as a precautionary measure. Additionally, ask if there are witnesses who are willing to provide details on what they saw, as well as their contact details.

5. Document The Scene

You need to record as much information about the accident by taking a video or photos of the scene. Depending on the scenario of the accident, inspect the impact on both vehicles. Take a photo of the entire car, along with close-up shots of the damages on both parties, and property damages and skid marks.

List down the date and time of the mishap. Try to include the street names and the direction both vehicles were heading to before and after the ordeal.

6. Call Your Insurance Provider

Even if you find it appealing to deliberate about a cash deal to avoid filing for an insurance claim, failing to notify your insurance company after a road accident can put you liable for damages from the ordeal.

Working with an insurance professional will guide you through the available options. If the other party’s insurance isn’t enough to cover your damages, the insurance professional will check your policy for any coverage that can deal with it.

7. Set An Appointment With Your Doctor

In vehicular accidents, some injuries only manifest after a day or two. You might feel fine after a vehicular accident, but you may have actually suffered from a spinal or head injury from the impact. With this in mind, you should see your doctor once you experience any pain or unusual symptom.

Generally, the injuries stemming from a vehicular crash or collision are part of your auto insurance claim, so you need to document physical damages from the accident.

Final Thoughts

Road accidents occur almost every year, and if you happen to be part of one, you must know the proper steps to take. The ordeal can be stressful, especially if it’s your first time or a serious collision occurs. These practical steps on what to do right after a car accident will help you go through the ordeal in a clear state of mind, as well as ensure the safety of everyone.