Like any risk-laden activity, running into trouble on the road certainly isn’t beyond the scope of possibility. In fact, between 20-50 million motor vehicle accidents occur each year.
While we hope that you never find yourself in this unfortunate situation, being prepared for the aftermath of a car crash won’t hurt.
Here are a few of the steps that you’ll want to take after a car accident.
1. Ensure Safety and Seek Medical Attention
After a car accident, the most important steps to take are ensuring safety and seeking medical attention. It is necessary to survey the area and make sure it is safe for everyone involved in the accident. If the accident occurred near traffic, use caution when exiting the vehicle.
Then, make sure to check for injuries by either checking yourself and others involved or by calling an ambulance. Even if one feels fine after the accident, it is important to get checked out by a medical professional for possible internal or residual injuries.
2. Contact the Authorities
Contact the authorities immediately. This means calling the police and making a report. This is the only way to ensure that legal responsibility will be determined and your insurance company will be aware of the details of the accident as soon as possible.
If there are any criminal charges that could be levied, or there are any injuries or damage, making sure that all of the appropriate paperwork is filed is absolutely necessary to contact the personal injury lawyer here to help you with the legal case.
3. Exchange Information
Immediately exchange insurance and contact information with the other parties involved. This includes names, addresses, phone numbers, driver’s license numbers, license plate numbers, make, model, and year of both vehicles involved, and policy numbers. It can help you get in touch later on, like when processing insurance claims or when filing a lawsuit.
4. Document the Accident Scene
Documenting the accident scene is one of the most important steps to take after a car accident. Taking good photos and gathering as much information as possible is key.
Be sure to record the time, date, and location of the accident, and take pictures of the vehicle damage, all personal property damage, and surrounding road conditions. You should also take pictures of any skid marks, debris, and other evidence of the crash. This can help you with your case, especially when it goes to court.
5. Notify Your Insurance Company
As soon as possible after an automobile accident, it is important for drivers to notify their insurance company. Doing so alerts representatives about the accident and helps ensure they have all the details necessary for any claims that may follow.
Drivers should provide their claims adjusters with all pertinent details, including information about the other party and what transpired in the incident. Keeping detailed records of any conversations or notifications sent to the insurance company is likewise a good idea.
Know What to Do After a Car Accident
After a car accident, the most important step to take is to seek medical attention if needed. You should also document the accident, contact the police, and exchange insurance information.
Finally, contact an attorney to help you to navigate the next steps. Taking each of these steps can provide you with the best possible outcome. Contact one of our attorneys today to help you with your car accident.
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