7 Steps to Take Immediately After a Car Accident
Nobody ever expects to be in a car accident, but it's important to know what to do if one happens. Here are 7 steps to take immediately after a car accident.
Every year, more than four million car accidents happen in the US. From these crashes, about 37000 people lose their lives. For the survivors, car accidents can result in severe, life-altering injuries. Whether you've been in a serious or fender bender collision, being involved in a car crash is scary and traumatic. Confusion and indecision take a toll, and you are too stunned to think straight after a car accident. You've got a lot of thoughts and questions about what just happened -is anyone hurt, whose fault is it, is your car damaged, do you notify your insurance, and more. But do you know taking the right action promptly after a car accident can save the day? Yes, knowing what to do, when, and how to do it after a car accident can help resolve issues. However, delays or wrong actions can impede deserved justice, compensation and escalate problems. So, what exactly do you do as a victim of a car accident? To help you out, here are seven steps to take after a car accident to save the situation.
1. Assess the Damage of the Accident Whether you've been involved in a serious or minor accident, you should never leave the scene. First, ensure everyone involved is safe. If the crash was minor and no car accident injury occurred, drive the car to the roadside to avoid causing a snarl-up. Ensure hazard lights are on and put in position a warning triangle to alert other road users to slow down. However, leave the vehicles as they are if it was a severe crash or if anyone is injured. While you may not be injured, be careful when exiting your car. The accident can disorient your mind, putting your life in danger, especially if occurred on a highway or busy road.
2. Call the Police After a Car Accident If serious injuries or damages results from the accident, call 911. However, if it's a minor crash without serious injuries, contact the local police line to report. Regardless of how minor the accident seems, always report just in case any issue comes up later. If it's a minor accident, the police can ask for crash details over the phone instead of dispatching an officer to the scene. If an officer arrives at the scene, make sure to note their name, contact information, and badge number. Also, make sure you get a copy of the accident report from the police officer.
3. Collect Evidence After an accident, you may need to work with a car accident attorney to get compensated for damages and suffering. In doing so, the attorney will need concrete evidence to build up a strong and winning case. Collect important information which could help the attorney prove your case. Collect information from the other parties involved. Get their name, phone number, license plate number, and insurance information. It's also important to record information about the vehicles information. This includes the make and model, year, license plate number, and color. If any witness is willing to offer you their contact details, get them. However, don't share your insurance policy coverage limits, social security number, or other personal details. This protects you from being a victim of identity theft.
4. Document the Accident Scene Using your phone, take photos of the cars, damage, and the road. Take close-up photos and those of the entire car for any vehicle involved in the accident. These will help show the exact position of the impact to the car and help determine who was in the wrong. Also, note down the date and time of the crash. Take images or footage of the accident scene, including any property damage or skid marks. Also, record the street or address of the accident and the direction each car was headed. If possible, sketch a diagram illustrating the accident scene. You can even record details of the accident using a voice recorder on your phone. This information is crucial to help insurance adjusters reconstruct the accident scene.
5. Avoid Roadside Discussions With Other Drivers Avoid arguing with the at-fault parties. While you may be sure someone else caused the accident, you mustn't confront them. Emotions can run high after an accident, but you need to keep a cool head. Also, avoid admitting or taking responsibility for the accident. Keep in mind this might be the case if you say sorry even when not at fault. Don't argue with other drivers involved to avoid saying things that may implicate or shift the blame.
6. Call a Tow Truck if Necessary If you sustained major damages, call a tow truck to transport it to a collision repair center. There are multiple roadside assistance companies, and getting one may not be an issue. However, you don't want to reach out to one that will keep you waiting for hours. You must always have tow truck company details in your emergency contacts. These might come in handy in such situations.
7. Call Your Insurance Company Reach out to your insurance company and notify them about the accident. It's tempting to accept a cash deal negotiation to shun filing an insurance claim. However, avoid this altogether. Failure to notify your insurance leaves you liable for any damages resulting from the accident. Also, avoid dealing with the other party's insurance company for car accident settlement. They may take advantage of you and reward lowball amounts as compensation. Take These Steps After a Car Accident Car accidents are scary and confusing. However, being clear-headed and knowing what to do can help you out of the tribulations. Are you in need of pain management without drugs or surgery after a car accident? Auto Accident Pain Relief Center of Illinois got you covered. If you are in the Chicagoland and surrounding areas like, Elmhurst, Villa Park, Lombard, Bensenville, Berkeley, Bellwood, Hillside, Northlake, Melrose Park, Stone Park or Westchester, have been involved in an auto accident and are experiencing, whiplash, headaches, blurred vision, neck pain, mid-back pain, low back pain, sciatica, numbness and tingling in the arms or legs, call us 24/7 at 800-862-5914. Contact us today !
