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What to do After a Car Accident

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Auto accidents can happen at any time. In the US, it is estimated that there are more than 6 million people involved in crashes. If you have been involved in a car crash before, you know how the entire experience can be very confusing. When you know what needs to be done after being involved in an accident will help you remain calm and you will have an easier time dealing with the insurance provider.

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1. Checking for injuries and risks.

One of the most important things after being involved in an accident is to think about your safety. It is a good idea to assess your condition and safety status before you can do anything else. Once you are done with this, you can start determining if there are any other people involved in the accident who need medical attention.

Examine your surroundings: Is there heavy traffic? Are there any signs of smoke?

 

2. Moving to a safe position and calling 911.

After you have confirmed that everyone is okay, the next step is moving to a safer location, like the shoulder of the road or the sidewalk. If you or someone is injured, call 911, switch the car engine off then turn on the hazard lights. Do not leave the scene of the accident until emergency services arrive.

 

3. Calling the police.

When you have been involved in an accident, one thing you need to do is call the police. This is important whether the crash is minor or not. The local law enforcement should be there to file the accident report, which many states require. When the responding officer arrives, he/she will ask for your license, registration, insurance, and other information. Make sure you note the officer information, which includes their name, contact details, and badge number. Make sure you get a copy of the police accident report because you are going to need it when making your insurance claim according to Car.co.uk.

 

4. Exchanging information with the other party involved.

Make sure you have the name, phone number, license information, email address, license plate numbers, and the insurance companies of the other parties involved in the accident. It is a good idea to take photos because it will capture some of this information.

It is also important to note down more information about the car, like the brand, model, and color. If the driver is not the owner of the car note down the relationship between the car owner and the driver. If there are witnesses, take their full names and contact information.

You shouldn’t sign any documents unless they are from the police.

 

5. Remaining calm.

Emotions tend to run high after an accident, which is why you should try your best to remain calm. This is not the time to determine who was at fault. What you need to do is exchange information with the other parties involved and leave the rest to insurance companies and their lawyers.

 

6. Documenting the scene.

Take photos of the scene using your smartphone or camera. Take photos of vehicles involved in the accident. Take them from different angles. Get the damages on the vehicles and the absence or presence of road hazards, skid marks, and other relevant evidence. Take photos of the other cars including the license plate number, insurance documents, license, and driver’s registration and vehicle details as it will help you when it comes to dealing with the law. This will come in handy when you misplace your notes or write down some inaccurate information.

There are some insurance companies that have apps where you can submit these photos and not having to wait for adjusters to come and assess the damage.

 

7. Recording what occurred.

Write down everything you can remember. This includes the location of the accident, weather, road conditions, traffic signs, time of day, and other relevant information. If you don’t have a pen, record a voice note or use the note tool on your phone. This way, you are going to preserve all the important details you might need later.

 

8. Notifying your insurance provider.

Contact your insurance company as soon as possible, even when still at the seven of the accident. The sooner you contact the insurance company, the sooner you get started with the claims process. This is going to be better because the evidence is still fresh. It is also important to contact your Lawyer because you might need their advice. There are some instances where the case needs to go to the courts.

 

9. Reassessing your condition.

When you are involved in a car accident, there are some internal injuries you might suffer from that you don’t know about. It might take some time before you start to notice such injuries. The best action is to visit a medical specialist so they can do a full-body examination. Documenting your injuries will help with the claims process.

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