If you are a carn owner, the probability is high that the last thing you expect when you get into your car on a daily basis is to be involved in a car accident. The thing is though, car accidents do happen every day, oftentimes due to other peoples’ negligence, which is why it is extremely important for you to know what you should do in such a scenario.
That being said, after every car crash, no matter if it is minor or major, whether there are any injuries or not, there are always certain steps that you need to take and protocols for you to follow. In order to help you understand what it is that you should do if you’ve been in a car accident, in this article, we have created a list that is going to help you deal with the situation as efficiently as possible.
Make Sure That Everyone’s Safe
Before you do anything else, it’s vital that you make sure that you are no longer in danger. Make sure to do a thorough check for any possible injuries regarding everyone in your car, and afterward, check with the second involved party. If there are any injuries that require immediate attention – call the ambulance immediately.
After you have made sure that everyone is safe, you can proceed to exit the vehicle and go to the side of the road.
Call the Police
Secondly, it is crucial that you call the police as soon as you have made sure that everyone is safe. It’s understandable that it can be hard to think clearly and plan appropriately in the initial state of shock that events like these cause, but the sooner you call the police – the better the chance of them assessing the entire situation properly. This is especially something that concerns you if you didn’t cause the accident since you surely want the police to be able to see that and to write it down in the report.
While you wait for the police, we’re going to explain what you need to do next in the following text.
Notify your insurance
When it comes to insurance claims auto-accident claims are some of the most common insurance claim types. If you have been involved in an accident, even if it wasn’t your fault it is imperative that you notify your insurance company as a matter of priority. The other party involved may notify your insurance company before you and seek to blame you for any injuries or losses that occurred, so it is always best your insurance company hear about it from you first.
When you report the accident to your insurance provider you will have to provide your insurance policy number and registration details together with any names, registration numbers, and contact details of all other parties involved in the accident. You should also provide your insurers with as much information regarding the accident as possible. Hand over any notes you may have made about the accident and any photos you took at the time. This will help the insurers to assess the accident and determine or prove who was at fault for the accident.
When you report your accident it is also worth checking through the details of your insurance policy as you may be entitled to financial or practical assistance. Check to see if you are entitled to a replacement vehicle or whether you have personal injury cover to claim for any injuries or losses you may have suffered as a result of the accident.
Call Your Lawyer
Now that all of the parameters of the highest priority have been handled, you should call your lawyer. Surely, you aren’t legally obligated to do so, but as experts over at https://usa-law.org explain, having a credible, experienced professional by your side to guide you through the entire process is going to ensure that you get compensated appropriately. One of the most prominent reasons why people don’t get reimbursed appropriately is due to the fact that their claims are incomplete and that they lack important documents, and your attorney is going to ensure that this doesn’t happen.
Look for Useful Evidence
If you still have time, it is advised that you look for any useful evidence regarding the scene where the accident has taken place before the police come. So, what should you look for exactly? Well, first of all, you want to make sure that you have all the registration numbers of relevance written down.
What you want to do next is to ask the witnesses, if there are any, to stay until the police get on site. This is extremely important as these people are the best, unbiased source of information on what has happened exactly.
Make Sure That You Ask for the Police Record
When the police get there, make sure that you address all of the important aspects of the story. Leave nothing unsaid, be as straightforward as possible, help them understand what has happened exactly. It’s crucial that you tell the story as it has happened due to the fact that the police record is going to have an important role in your claim after you file it later on.
That being said – don’t forget to ask for the police record! You may be able to acquire it on site, but the probability is high that you will get a digital copy at your email address or that you’ll need to get it in person at your local police station.
Go to the Doctor
Lastly, you want to go to the doctor, even if there are no evident injuries that you were able to observe. A lot of injuries regarding car accidents tend to have a delayed response, so you might not see any symptoms for a couple of days. This is exactly why it is important to go to the doctor so that you can get your treatment as soon as possible.
Also, just as we have explained with the police record – make sure that you ask for a medical record regarding the accident as it is vital for your case.
In the end, the most important thing in all of this is for you to ensure that you are, first and foremost, healthy and safe. Secondly, if you didn’t cause an accident and it has impacted your life, be it regarding your finances, your health, your overall well being, or every one of those three aspects – you have the right to be compensated, and you should make sure that you take all of the steps that we have talked about in order to get compensated appropriately.
So, be vigilant, drive carefully, and if anything does happen – now you know what are the steps that you need to make in order for everything to pan out in the best possible way regarding the dire circumstances.
