Car accidents are unfortunate events of life that many of us have experienced at some point. Even if they are not serious, they still have long-lasting effects. If you get into a car accident, there are certain steps that you must take immediately to make sure everyone is safe, to get your assurance process on track and follow the law. It’s all about Awareness!
1. Safety First
The foremost priority after a car accident is the safety of yourself and everyone around. You must quickly turn your hazard lights after the accident. Try your best to get your car over to a safe place. Also, stay inside with your seat-belt on. Check the safety of others and provide immediate assistance to anyone who is hurt. But remember not to move an injured person since it may cause more damage and should be avoided unless the person’ wellbeing is at risk.
2. Get Checked Out Quickly
No matter if you appear to be fine, it’s still important to get your injuries checked as soon as possible after a car accident. If you don’t get it checked, it may become a permanent part of your muscles and tendons causing pain sooner or later. If you don’t feel the need of an emergency room, at least book an appointment with a car accident doctor. This will make sure that your injuries will not turn into chronic conditions in the upcoming years.
3. Move the Car to Safety
If you can still operate the car and your injuries don’t prevent you from driving, its safest to move your vehicle so it doesn’t obstruct the path of other cars or harm anyone. Do your best to pull it over a safe location. Though that might not be possible at times so make sure to use the hazard lights to alert everyone on the road.
4. Stay in the Vehicle
If the crash happened on a busy road, suppose a highway, you need to be very careful while getting out of your car. It is commonly observed that car accident victims get struck when moving around the vehicle. If there is heavy traffic, the best way is to call the police while staying inside your vehicle and remain there until they arrive.
5. Notify Your Insurance Agent
After a car accident, you may want to contact your insurance agent while you are still present at the scene. In this way, you can accurately tell them everything that they need to get the claim process started. Though an accident may leave even the most confident driver in panic, following these steps will protect you from any pointless worries. You can focus more on your insurance process to get the vehicle fixed as quickly as possible.
6. Call 911
Whether an accident is a major or minor collision, calling the police is always important. Also, it’s a legal obligation in some states. The responding officials will fill out on accident statement and file the scene. If the police don’t reach the accident site, you can go to the nearby police station and complete all legal requirements yourself. Besides, when you file a claim with your insurer, they will probably ask you for the copy of the police report to help with the claim procedure. We recommend you take the following steps:
- Call the police and once they arrive, identify them. You need to get the name and badge number of responding officers.
- Ask the responding offices where you can get a copy of the accident report that might be required for the insurance claim.
- Document the accident by taking photographs of your vehicle from multiple angles. You may also take photographs of the other vehicle’s license plate. Afterward, share these photos with your insurer during the claim procedure to support your claim.
- Remember to write down the names and addresses of all parties involved in the accident that probably includes any passengers in the other vehicle as well.
- If there is anyone who has witnessed the accident, write down their names and contact information that might be helpful later.
