You’ve been involved in a car accident. What’s the next step you take?
No one expects to be involved in a car accident, but everyone should always be prepared. Knowing what to do following a car accident can help reduce stress and some frustration.
In the guide below, you’ll learn all the immediate steps to take post accident. Continue reading to learn more!
1. Find Safety and Check for Injuries
The very first thing you need to do after being involved in a car accident is to seek safety. If possible, drive your vehicle to a safe spot, such as a parking lot, driveway, or anything away from traffic. Once you’re safe, you can then move to the next step.
You may be suffering from injuries unknown to you directly after an accident. Your adrenaline can prevent you from realizing you’re hurt. Take a few moments to check over your entire body for injuries.
If you have passengers in the car, then look over one another for signs of injuries you may miss when checking yourself.
2. Call Local Law Enforcement
Whether there are serious injuries or not, your next step should be to contact local law enforcement. When officers arrived on the scene, they’ll have an ambulance and paramedics with them as well. They’ll quickly check your vitals and ensure you don’t need to be rushed to a hospital.
The officers will write up a report for the accident as well. This report will come in handy because you can use it when filing an insurance claim. A police report is a good way to prove which driver is at fault.
3. Exchange Information With the Other Driver
You’ll then need to exchange information with the other driver. Both insurance companies will want to know information about the other car and driver when filing the claims. You can get this information by asking the other driver for it.
You can also ask the other driver for their insurance card. A quick picture of the front and back of their insurance card should provide you with all the information your insurance company needs.
Don’t forget to take pictures of all cars involved in the accident as well. These pictures can also help an insurance company decide who was at fault.
4. Notify Your Insurance Company
With all of this information gathered, you can now notify your insurance company of the accident. To file a claim, you’ll need to call your insurance and provide them with all the information you have. After filing your claim, they’ll schedule an adjuster to come out and determine how much damage was done to the car.
Once you know how much it’ll cost to fix your vehicle, you can then decide where you want to take it.
5. Hire an Accident Attorney
Hiring an accident attorney can help you get the compensation you deserve after being involved in an accident. In some cases, other drivers refuse to accept the blame for the accident. There might also be times when you feel the insurance company isn’t providing you with the help you need.
An attorney will handle all of the hard work for you while you’re able to rest and start feeling better. You can read this article for more information about why hiring an accident attorney can be beneficial for you.
Make Sure to Follow These Steps Post Accident
After being involved in a car accident, make sure to follow these steps. Knowing what to do post accident can help reduce stress and help speed up the process. Be sure to follow the steps listed above to ensure you do just that.
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