What To Do If You’re In A Car Accident
Getting into a car accident makes for a tough situation. If the accident is minor, you may be left in a bit of a daze, wondering what to do next. It’s wise to prep your mind for what could happen, so you can take action if something does happen.
Knowing what to do in the case of a vehicle collision could help to save yours or someone else’s life. Protect yourself, and check out a quick overview of what to do if you’re ever involved in a car accident.
Check everyone in the vehicle
As soon as the vehicle comes to a complete stop, start checking everyone for injuries. If you find anyone who is in a compromising position, it’s wise not to move them until help arrives. If everyone is okay or simply dealing with minor injuries, do what you can to get the vehicle to a safer place.
Move to a safe location
If the vehicle is capable of driving, you should move it to a safer location. You may think that it’s somehow against the law to move your vehicle after an accident, but that’s not the truth.
It’s okay to move out of the way of traffic, in fact, it’s preferred. You only move outside the bounds of the law when you drive away from an accident without reporting it to the local police.
Call the local police
Once everyone is relatively safe, it’s time to call the police. Someone has likely already notified the local authorities of your accident, but it’s wise to make the call anyway.
On the off chance that no one else saw your accident, you’ll want the peace of knowing that help is on the way. Wait until the authorities arrive, and don’t leave the scene until a police officer tells you it’s okay to go.
Gather information at the scene
While you’re on the scene of your accident, you’ll want to gather as much information as possible. In the case that you need to file an accident claim, your attorney will do well to have as much information as possible regarding your wreck.
Take pictures of the accident and the damages caused. Get the names and insurance information from all the drivers involved in the accident, and make sure to grab a copy of the police report once it is filed.
Call your insurance agent
Once you’re home safely, you should make a phone call to your insurance agent. The quicker you notify your insurance agent, the faster your insurance claim will be processed. Don’t be the reason your case is held up, and make sure you do your part to provide the information necessary to move forward.
