Steps to Take After a Car Accident

Car accidents are every driver and vehicle owner’s worst nightmare. Any car wreck, no matter how minor it is, can leave you disoriented. It so happens that when people are under stress, especially in a car accident scenario, they hardly know what to do. If you find yourself in this rather unfortunate situation, here are eight crucial steps that could make a difference.

The first and most crucial thing is to assess how bad the injuries you have incurred might be. If you have serious injuries, try and stay put, until the emergency personnel arrives on the scene. Moving with crucial injuries could worsen your condition.

If your injuries are not critical, consider checking on your passengers. This is crucial to ensure you know about their well-being. In case any of them are injured, make sure to contact the emergency services or have someone do so if there are any bystanders.

To avoid other vehicles ramming into your wrecked car, turn on the emergency lights. It is also important to install a warning triangle at a distance to notify other drivers to slow down in time. Do this behind the scene in case of a one-way traffic, and on the front and back on two-way traffic road.

It is important to ensure that you are visible to other road users. The worst thing that can happen is surviving a minor fender-bender, only to be hit by another car. As long as you are on the scene and out of your vehicle, make sure you are visible. A reflective vest could help save your life.

The next essential thing to do is to call 911. In some states, this is actually a legal requirement. It is the officers’ duty to fill out a report on the accident as well as documenting the scene. Before they arrive, however, you need to get to safety. If you can move, get out of the vehicle and onto the sidewalk or off the road. In case your vehicle can still move, then you can try to pull it over to the shoulder. If the car is not drivable, leave it and get to safety. Nevertheless, don’t leave the scene until the police arrive.

You will need information such as the other driver’s numbers, name, address license number as well as the plate numbers of the vehicle. Besides, primary insurance information comes in handy too. Also, get information about the passengers in the other car, if there are any. Remember; don’t apologize for any mistakes possibly leading to the car accident. This could be an indication that you admit to being at fault.

Taking photographs of the damage to your car also proves very important. These will help the insurance company determine the compensation you should get for the damage. What’s more, they help in court too if necessary. If possible, you can make sure you have pictures of your vehicle beforehand. In case of a car accident, they will help for comparison to get a picture of the damage that has resulted from the accident.

All said and done, make sure to let your insurer know that you have been involved in a car accident as soon as possible. Cooperation is crucial when dealing with the insurance company, and be open about the events that unfolded. Also, notify them concerning the seriousness of your injuries. Be sincere with them, since lying could land you into trouble, or even result in lack of compensation if they find out you were deceptive. Getting police reports on the accident could also help you understand who was at fault.

As much as you can never prepare fully for a car accident, these simple steps could be all you need. Once you find yourself in a car wreck, just try to remain calm, and stick to them. Don’t let the confusion get the best of you. These ideas could save the day and, most importantly, your life.