Experiencing a car accident can be harrowing, to say the least. It gets all the more stressful when you don’t know what to do if you find yourself in this horrific situation. By learning what to do in the aftermath of a car accident, you can take the necessary steps to safeguard your wellbeing, your loved ones, as well as your financial and legal rights.
The following car accident response guide explains how to achieve this goal.
Don’t leave the scene
No matter who caused the car accident and whose fault it was, do not leave the scene in any case. Instead, make sure that you remain calm and stay on the scene. From there, you can take the next steps. In cases of major injuries, this is essentially where you start rebuilding your life after a serious car accident. If you have only suffered minor injuries, this gives you an opportunity to assess the damage, protect your rights, and recover any losses like medical bills.
Get to a safe location
Once you have established with the other party that neither of you are leaving the scene, you should get into a safe location that gets you out of direct traffic and harm’s way. If someone is seriously injured, turn on hazard lights to signal to traffic that you cannot move out of the way. These steps make sure that no one experiences additional damage. This also saves your car and makes insurance claims easier when they are processed through auto repair shop estimate software.
Call Emergency Services
While minor injuries can be attended with a first aid kit, it’s best to call emergency services for major injuries or if you need help getting to the hospital. With that, you should call the police in any case. It’s because having a police record of the accident is necessary for you to file any claims with your insurance provider. In some cases, you may also need to prove that you are not at fault to get the necessary coverage.
Exchange contact information with involved parties
After you have checked everyone for injuries and called emergency as well as law enforcement services, you should exchange contact information with the other party. Besides their name and phone number, get their email, address, and vehicle details. You may also want to get their driver license number and the details of their insurance provider. To make sure that you are ready to note down this information at a moment’s notice, you can use a digital notes app.
Start documenting the scene
If you are physically able to take pictures of the accident scene, don’t delay it any further. This helps you document the scene and gather evidence, which you may need to defend yourself against the other party’s claim in case they decide to be difficult. In some situations, you may also need to establish that you are not at fault to be able to get insurance coverage. This helps you answer top questions related to car accidents and protects your interests.
Inform your insurance provider
To make sure that you can file a timely claim, you should not delay contacting insurance providers. Depending upon the state you live in and the circumstances of your accident, this could be your own insurance provider or the provider for the other party. This is why you should make sure that you have effective protection by your side. You can browse through an insurance platform to compare policy rates and take out the most suitable policy for yourself.
Seek a lawyer if needed
There are times where the other party in the car accident is cooperative with you. Then there are situations where they refuse to behave in an amicable way. In addition to that, if the case is taken to court, you need to defend yourself at any cost. By looking into solutions like an online legal service platform, you can find a lawyer who could help you on short notice. Similar to lease agreements for protection, having a lawyer beside you can guide you through the process.
Get a medical checkup
While you can treat minor injuries without a hospital visit, getting a medical checkup can help you detect any hidden injuries like torn muscles. This not only allows you to get immediate medical care but also helps you document any injuries that you may have experienced during the accident. In turn, you can get proper compensation for your medical care and don’t have to worry about putting together funds for it. This may also help you claim any loss of work afterwards.
By keeping these steps in mind, you can know exactly what to do in the event of a car accident. This can make sure that you receive the type of care you need, all while protecting yourself, your loved ones, and your financial needs.