Do you know what to do if you are in a car accident? Many motorists do not as they do not expect to get into a collision despite how common they are, but this is a problem because knowing how to react is crucial to the safety of everyone on the roads and also for taking the appropriate steps afterwards. Even if it is just a minor accident, you will still need to follow a few basic steps to make sure no further accidents happen and also so that you can notify your insurer and establish who is accountable. These are the main steps to take after any auto collision.
Stop The Car & Check For Injuries
First, you need to stop the automobile and immediately check yourself and passengers for any injuries. Immediately call the emergency service if anyone is seriously hurt. If not, be sure to keep checking with those that are in your car over the coming hours as some injuries do not present themselves till later on or will get progressively worse.
Pull Over
If you are able to do so, you should pull the vehicle over to the side of the road, switch off the engine and put on your hazard lights so that traffic can continue to flow. Call the police if the road is blocked or if you believe that the other driver is inebriated, if they flee the scene or if you think that they caused the accident on purpose.
Exchange Details
Next, you need to speak to the other drivers involved and exchange insurance details – try to avoid placing any blame at this point and be civil. You should also take down the details of any other passengers involved and anyone who witnessed the accident.
Gathering Details
You should then gather as many details at the scene as possible in order to create an account of what transpired. This will include details of all of the cars involved, photographs of the crash scene, damage and any injuries sustained, the time and date, the weather conditions and what damage was sustained.
Insurance
You should inform your insurer about the accident as soon as possible and provide all of the details of the accident so that they can take appropriate action.
Speak To An Attorney
If the accident was not your fault, then it is important to contact a personal injury law firm that specializes in auto accidents, such as Zanes Law. They will be able to claim for compensation on your behalf which can be helpful for recovering costs involved such as hospital bills, time off work and any long-term treatment that may be required. This compensation can also reduce the stress and frustration involved and makes sure that the responsible party does not get away with it.
Even a minor auto accident can be scary and leave a motorist feeling shaky, but it is important that you know how to react in these situations in order to stay safe, get any medical attention that you need and to create a detailed account of what happened. These are the main steps to take immediately following any kind of crash and could help you to receive the full compensation that you deserve.
Tammie~
Excellent advice and something they should include as part of driver’s education classes.
Very important steps to make.. keep in mind so you act naturally during emergency
This is some very helpful information to keep in mind!