Steps To Follow Right After A Car Accident
The moment right after a car accident can be filled with anger, fear, and utter confusion, but knowing what to do can mitigate the impact of the accident and get you the compensation you deserve if the other driver is at fault.
Here are some essential steps to follow right after a car accident has happened.
Pause, breathe, and see if anyone's injured
All car accidents, even minor ones, have the potential to cause serious injuries. The first thing to do after an accident is to consciously assess yourself to see if you're okay. If you're carrying passengers, check if anyone is injured. If neither you nor your passengers are hurt, get out of the vehicle to check on the driver and passengers in the other vehicle.
If someone is injured, get to a safe area and call 911 for help. The police will come to the scene of the accident and also get an ambulance on-site.
Gather the other driver's personal information
Before help can arrive, ask the other driver for their personal information. Try to gather as much relevant information as you can. Some of the important details to note down include:
- The driver's name.
- The driver's license plate number.
- The driver's phone number.
- The driver's insurance company and policy number.
- The make, model, and year of the driver's vehicle.
It's also important to take photos of both vehicles and the scene of the accident to corroborate your account of the accident. Capture relevant areas such as the damage caused to both vehicles, the license plate of the other vehicle, and the direction of the road you were traveling.
Avoid accepting liability for the accident or talking to the other driver's insurance representatives. Wait for the police to arrive on-site and gather their own information.
See a doctor
While certain car accident injuries such as cuts and fractures are immediately noticeable, others may not manifest for hours, days, weeks, or even months.
Even if you feel perfectly okay, it's important to book an appointment with your preferred doctor immediately after an accident. This way, the doctor can examine you to see if there are any unknown injuries you might have suffered as a result of the accident.
Document all your information
When it comes to making a car accident compensation claim, proper documentation is crucial. From the photos that you took at the accident scene to your doctor's medical report, make sure everything that can help you get a fair settlement is well-documented.
Contact a car accident lawyer
If you need help navigating the complex claims and settlement process or evaluating any settlement offers, get legal help by seeking out a car accident attorney.