Car accident!!!

What to do after a car accident? 

You might not have thought of it or expect that you will experience one; however, you never know what life has planned for you. 

You have to be prepared for every worst situation so that you can overcome it without much struggle. The number of car crashes is increasing with every passing day. The number of people who died in car accidents is 39,107 in the year 2019.

By the end of 2020, the number has increased to 42,060. On average, 38,000 people get killed in car crashes every year in the United States. 

Till now, we have talked about the worst cases. Car crashes do not always cause death; some people get seriously injured, and in some cases, the effects last life-long. You might get the insurance, but for that, you need to fulfill some of the mandatory criteria. 

8 Steps To Follow After A Car Accident

As I have mentioned earlier, you need to fulfill some mandatory criteria for getting insurance. Apart from that, in order to stay on the safe side, you must take some basic steps. Here we are to guide you through the steps you need to take just after an accident. 

Step 1: Take The necessary Safety Precautions

Whenever you have a car accident, you first have to ensure your safety. 

Check whether you are hurt or not?

Are you bleeding?

Can you move?

Do you feel hurt?

While moving, do you feel any discomfort or pain? 

Once you get to understand, you can move and not hurt that much; you need to get out of the car and be in a safe zone.  

But, do not jump from the car at the moment. You have to check whether your car is in a safe position or not. In most cases, the cars get stuck at the edge of the road or in the middle of the road. 

If you think that you are in a dangerous position and your car is not functioning properly to get into a safe zone, it is safe to call for help. Once you are able to safely position yourself at a place, it will be appreciated if you also ensure the safety of others and help others as much as possible.  

Step 2: Call 911 And Get A Police Report

How to report an accident to the police?

Yes, reporting car accident to the police is indeed needed. 

Once you get into a safe position, or you are not able to get out of yourself in a safe position from the car and still survive in a crucial position, call 911 and seek help. 

As per state law, if someone is injured in a car accident or some property is damaged to a certain level, you need to call the police to the spot. Plus, you also need to have a police report for your insurance claim. 

When getting the police report or the written statement, you need to check whether the report has the following things. 

• The police report number.
• The name of the officer.
• The phone number of the officer.
• Also, the badge number of the officer. 

Step 3: Get Medical Assistance

If you find yourself injured, it is best to take the basic medical help at that point. If you are totally feeling fine and thinking that you do not need any medical assessment, let us tell you one thing. 

At that point in time, you might be feeling totally fine with no external injury. Some of the injuries can be internal, and you might notice after a few days. So, it is always advised to have a thorough check of yourself after a car accident.

This way, you will be able to claim your medical treatment cost as well. When you are going through the medical check-up, ensure that you are taking all the documents, prescriptions, and bills for the claim. 

Step 4: Document The Accident

You have the police report, which is great, but you also need to gather as much evidence as you can so that they can support your claim. 

You can start taking photos of the road, and car accident spot, the damages your car has got. Also, do not forget to note down the contact details of the people who got injured due to this accident along with the other driver. 

While taking photos, you need to consider the following things. 

• Makes and models of the vehicles.
• The license plates of the vehicles involved in the accident. 
• Other distinguishing characteristics like the positioning of the vehicles on the road bumper stickers. 

All these pieces of information are mandatory and crucial for filing a lawsuit and getting a claim from the faulty driver. 

Step 5: Get The Contact Details Of The Witnesses

After you are done gathering the necessary evidence, it is time to check for the witnesses. 

If there is any witness, talk to them. Only the witnesses know when and how the car accident took place and also who should be considered as the fault. However, it is not going to be the official statement, but when it comes to getting the claim or winning the lawsuit, your lawyer will be able to play them as the winning tram cards. 

Step 6: Never Admit Fault

You might have made a driving mistake, but it is best not to apologize for that. You might get to know that the fault was actually the other driver, so skip the apology part. The other driver might offer you some immediate compensation. 

Never accept that; it has been seen if you claim you might get the entire cost of your car repair and also for the medical expenses of your injuries as you do not have any proper idea about the full extent of the injuries and damages.  

Do not receive any compensation and also do not promise the driver not to involve the insurance company. Avoid signing any type of documents unless it is for the police or your insurance company. 

Step 7: Exchange Essential Information

You have already got the police report and also documented the accident. However, your job is not done there. Note down the name of the other driver along with their insurance information. 

The other driver might ask for your phone number, house address, and driver’s license number. But due to personal identity theft, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners advises providing only the necessary information. 

In most cases, the information that is present in your insurance card can be provided to the other driver. They include the following things.

• Your full name. 
• Policy number.
• Insurance company.
• The phone number of the insurance company. 

Step 8: Notify The Insurance Company

Last but not least, you need to notify the insurance company. After you notify the insurance company that you have gone through a car accident, they will start the process and start getting information regarding the same car crash. 

After conducting a complete verification, they will offer the insurance payout both for the injuries and for the damages of the vehicles. So, do not forget this step. 

Hire A Car Accident Lawyer

Only taking all these steps is not enough for getting the claim. You also need to hire an experienced car accident lawyer, who will be able to handle all the documentation and formalities that are needed to be done for getting the claim. 

You also might be required to drag the case to court if things do not settle out of court. In that case, you will need a lawyer. So, it will be best to have a lawyer beforehand. It will increase your chances of getting the claim you deserve.

Additional Reading:

• A Beginner’s Guide To Personal Injury Law
• All You Need To Know About A Truck Accident Lawyer
• 10 Different Types Of Lawyers And Who You Should Choose
• What Happen If Driving On A Suspended Or Revoked License