Accidents are inevitable, but when put in a situation where you are in the middle of this horrifying situation, the presence of mind is important. According to statistics, over 6 million car accidents happen every year in the United States alone. One in every three of these accidents involves personal injury, either to the driver or the passengers. Though it’s easier said than done, there are things that you need to do after a car accident.
Here are the most important things that you need to do when you are involved in a car accident:
Stop, Never Drive Away.
In case you get in an accident, whether you are the one at fault or the victim, it is important that you NEVER drive away from the scene. No matter if it’s a minor or a major one. This is one of the major mistakes that some people do.
Protect The Scene.
You have just been in an accident and you don’t want to cause any further accidents. You can do this by setting up flares or by simply keeping your flashers on. If the road is dark and if your lights fail to work, use a flashlight to keep you safe inside your car or by the side of the road.
Contact The Police.
Once you have the scene secured and if there are no serious injuries, call the police. A police report is needed for you to be able to file a claim. Your insurance company might require you this even if you make a claim for the damage incurred to your vehicle. Always remember that the vehicles that are involved in the accident should remain where they are.
Accurate Record Is Important.
As soon as the police arrive, ensure that you tell them exactly what happened. In case you do not the facts or you cannot remember something, make sure the police officer knows that. Never speculate, misstate, or make guesses. If you are asked whether you are injured or not and you are not sure, be honest and tell the truth.
Take Pieces of Evidence.
If you have a camera or your phone with you, take pictures of both vehicles if there are any damages. If you have injuries, make sure that you take pictures of that too. But once the police officers are there, never interrupt what they are doing. If you were not able to take pictures of the scene before they arrived, do it as soon as possible.
Call Your Insurance.
As soon as you can, you have to inform your insurance about what happened. Some policies require immediate reports. You need to find out if your insurance coverage covers your medical needs. If you have, then you have to use it to file a claim.
Seek Medical Attention.
Once the above steps are done, you need to seek medical attention even if you do not have any visible injuries. Usually, a car accident injuries show in a day or two. Once you are sure that your health is not at risk, do the next step.
Call Your Lawyer.
You should also call a car accident lawyer to help you with your case. This is probably the most important thing that you should do after the accident. Remember that your lawyer can protect your rights and make sure that any valuable evidence is safe.
Being in a car accident can be traumatic, but still, you have to make sure that you follow the steps mentioned above to ensure that you and your rights are protected and safe. Never forget to call a lawyer. This may be the last step but this is the most important one.
