After a car accident, the people who were involved in the accident are frequently under a great deal of stress, and it is well-known that stress can make it difficult to concentrate on the steps that need to be taken in order to deal with such circumstances.
Because of this, we are here to guide you through the most important actions you need to take after being involved in a car accident.
What to do Following an Accident:
- Keep yourself safe. For your immediate safety, assess the situation
- Remain seated in your vehicle if there is a possibility of danger or if the act of moving increases the likelihood that you will sustain additional injuries
- Move your vehicle to a more secure location if it is posing a threat to public safety or obstructing the flow of traffic
- Keep the accident scene intact
- Determine if any injuries have occurred
- Call 911 right away to verify the collision and to call assistance if necessary
- Follow any directions given by the police
- Contact your insurance provider
- Follow any directions your agent gives you
- If possible, arrange a towing via your insurance carrier
- Take down the information of the towing company and the place where your car was towed
Checklist for Accidents
- Everything should be documented at the scene of the accident
- Gather data from the other drivers implicated in the accident
- Make contact with your insurance provider. We recommend that you do it within 24 hours after the accident
- Make an appointment with your physician for a medical examination
- Maintain a record of all vehicle repairs and healthcare expenses
- Keep track of your injuries in a journal
At the scene of an accident, drivers should collect the following information from all parties involved.
- Full name
- Address
- Contact information
- Driver's license number
- Insurance provider
- Number of policies
- Number of license plates
Verify that the driver with whom you were in an accident is the owner of the vehicle. If not, make sure you get the information on the vehicle's owner as well as the his or her relationship with the driver.
Avoid telling others about your accident
Especially in states where liability insurance is required. While vehicle accident survivors may feel compelled to accuse other drivers in the immediate aftermath of an accident, an investigation may reveal a completely different story. Avoid discussing your or anyone else's role in the incident, except with your attorney.
