6 Things You Must Do After a Car Accident
Every year, more than 10 million cars and light trucks are involved in crashes in the United States. Being involved in an accident, even a minor one, may be a stressful event, so it’s critical to know what to do afterward.
The process of coping with an accident starts at the scene by ensuring that everyone involved is safe. Hopefully, you will never be involved in a car accident, but if you are, this seven-step checklist will help you figure out what to do next.
1. Stay Calm
Keeping a cool head will help you deal with the accident and its consequences. So, you don’t need to panic and be nervous after a car accident. If you do so, you may make major mistakes, which will cause more complexities in dealing with issues related to car accidents.
2. Look for Injuries
Inspect yourself and any passengers in your vehicle for apparent injuries. If it appears that someone is injured, either in your car or another vehicle involved in the accident, call 911 or have someone else do so. If you are seriously injured, avoid moving until assistance arrives.
3. Get Your Car Off the Road
The Insurance Information Institute (III) states that you should, if possible, clear the road. Try to pull your vehicle over to the shoulder to avoid collisions with approaching vehicles. If an accident occurs at night, turn on your hazard lights so that other vehicles can see you.
If you are unable to move your car, get yourself and anybody else involved in the accident to a safe location away from the road.
4. Check for Damage On Both Vehicles
If you are not injured and can inspect the damage to the vehicles, do so. Try to snap images of the vehicles’ positions if they have not been moved, as well as the damage to each vehicle.
If you are unable to take photographs, think about drawing a diagram to demonstrate how the accident occurred while it is still fresh in your memory.
5. Inform Law Enforcement about the Accident
The Insurance Information Institute advises contacting law enforcement at the site if the collision is serious. You can ask for a copy of the accident report that the police may request for insurance purposes.
On the other hand, if your accident occurred on the road in Brownsville, Texas, and you haven’t been assisted by a police or insurance company, then look for Brownsville Texas attorneys. They can assist you in your car accident-related disputes.
6. Choose If You Want to Submit an Insurance Claim
The purpose of car insurance is to protect your finances in the event of an accident. You have to have minimum amounts of property damage and physical injury liability coverage. If you are at fault in an accident, then both of those liability coverages are meant to compensate the other driver or their passengers.
The collision coverage on the insurance policy will take care of any damage to your vehicle. If you have personal injury protection or medical payment coverage, it will assist with the cost of any injuries you may have.
