No one ever plans to have an accident. After all, that’s why they called accidents.
Being involved in a car wreck can be an incredibly traumatic experience. You can be seriously injured, your car damaged, and there’s always the potential for fatalities.
That’s why it’s so important to understand what to do immediately following a car accident. Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place for the information you need.
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Stay at the Scene of the Accident
The first thing you need to remember is never to leave the scene of an automobile accident. In fact, leaving the scene is against the law.
If the collision took place on a busy roadway, steer your vehicle out of traffic if possible. Otherwise, you should always exit the video and stand a safe distance away to wait for the police to arrive.
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Check for Injuries
Immediately following the accident, you should check for injuries. This includes checking yourself for injuries, other passengers riding in your vehicle, as well as drivers and passengers in other vehicles that were involved in the accident. Get all the details you can so that you can pass this along to the emergency services operator.
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Call Emergency Services
Once you’ve assessed any injuries that might have been sustained during the collision, call 911. The operator will need as much information as possible, including the location of the accident, the number of vehicles involved, and any serious injuries.
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Call Your Insurance Company
Once you’ve called 911 and help is on the way, you should contact your insurance company. They will need specific information about what happened, including the amount of damage to your vehicle.
They will also likely want the other driver’s insurance information and will request a copy of the police report as soon as it’s available. This will help them get started processing your claim.
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Exchange Information with the Other Motorist
You’ll also need to exchange information with any other motorists involved in the accident. This includes their driver’s license number and tag number.
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Take Photos of the Scene
Take plenty of quality photos of the accident scene. This should include a variety of angles, the positions of the vehicles, and all damage to your car.
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Seek Medical Attention
If you were hurt in the accident, seek attention at the emergency room or your personal physician as soon as possible. Keep in mind that you might not become aware of the full extent of your injuries until hours or even days following the accident.
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Hire a Personal Injury Attorney
Next, be sure to hire an experienced personal injury attorney. That’s because hiring a lawyer is the key to making sure you receive the settlement you deserve, especially when you’ve sustained serious injuries as well as major damage to your vehicle.
Check out Sweetlaw.com.
