Car accidents can be scary and stressful. In a matter of seconds, your brain floods with questions and thoughts about what happened, what damage has been done to your car, whether passengers are safe, who is at fault, and more. So, it is important to know what to do immediately following an accident to make sure that everyone is safe and to ensure that the proper steps are taken to resolve any issues that may come up later on.
Car accidents can be scary and stressful. In a matter of seconds, your brain floods with questions and thoughts about what happened, what damage has been done to your car, whether passengers are safe, who is at fault, and more. So, it is important to know what to do immediately following an accident to make sure that everyone is safe and to ensure that the proper steps are taken to resolve any issues that may come up later on.
First, assess the damage of the accident. Make sure that all of the people involved in the accident are safe and determine whether or not anyone needs medical attention. This includes not only the passengers in your car, but passengers of any other cars that were involved in the accident. If anyone is seriously injured and in need of medical attention, call an ambulance right away. Then, determine what damage was done to the vehicles. Try to figure out whether or not the cars can still be driven. If medical attention is not needed and the damage to the cars is relatively minor, try to move the cars so they are not impeding traffic. This can mean pulling off to the side of the road or moving to a parking lot or gas station if there is one close by. Make sure that all drivers involved agree to move to the same location.
Next, notify the police. If serious damage or injuries have occurred, call 911. If the accident and injuries are minor, call your local non-emergency police line to report the accident. While you may think you only need to call the police if someone was seriously injured, it is important to call the police even if the accident is minor so a report can be taken. Accident reports can be very helpful to insurance companies and lawyers because they contain important details like who was involved, road conditions, witness accounts, and more. In some cases, especially if the accident is minor, police may take information over the phone rather than dispatching an officer to respond in person.
The next important step is to collect information. This means speaking to any other drivers involved and getting their:
You should also take note of the address or street where the accident occurred, which way each car was going, details about the accident, and the names and contact information of any police officers that come to the scene. Additionally, you should take photos of the accident on your phone as they can be helpful later on for insurance claims or lawsuits. Take photos of the damage to any cars involved, the road, license plates, etc.
Avoid arguing with other drivers about who was at fault. Once a police report has been taken and you have gathered the necessary information, call a tow truck if necessary. Then, call your insurance company and notify them about the accident.
