Car accidents are something people believe will never happen to them. Even if they happen all the time, people don’t always see them first-hand. Reports show that more than 6.7 million accidents happened in 2019 alone.
Do you want to learn more about what to do in a car accident situation? Read on below to learn what to do during a car accident.
Check for Injuries
Whether you’re dealing with multiple or single vehicle accidents, checking for injuries is the first step you should take. Start with your own care. Check yourself and your passengers to see if anyone is hurt.
Head to other involved vehicles after you check yourself. If you or another driver needs help, call emergency services as soon as possible to get medical attention.
Move to Safety
The chances are that you’ll still be on the road after an accident. You’ll put yourself at even more risk if you remain there instead of getting to safety.
If possible, move all vehicles involved in the accident to the side of the road and activate the emergency blinkers. If that’s not possible, put emergency blinkers on and move every person off to the side to deal with the crash.
Collect Evidence
Collecting evidence is the next step to take during a car accident. You need this because your insurance company will need to understand what happened. Here are some important things to document:
- Names of drivers involved
- License plate numbers
- Witnesses
- Pictures of vehicle damage
- Insurance information
You may need more once you leave the scene and get more information. This will be things like doctor assessments and further vehicle damage documented by a mechanic.
File a Police Report
Filing a police report is a step you shouldn’t skip in a car accident. A police report will provide a proven record of what happened.
However, some police stations don’t send officers to every accident, especially if there isn’t much damage. You can still head to the police station to file a report if this happens.
File an Insurance Claim
Filing an insurance claim is the final step in the auto accident process. Even if the other person is at fault, let your insurance company know what happened. They will want to be in the loop on all proceedings.
If the other person caused the accident, file the claim with their insurance provider. Give them all the documentation you have and the police report. From there, you’ll get a settlement offer and the chance to challenge or accept it.
What to Do in a Car Accident: Now You Know
You’re in a highly stressful situation when you get into a car crash. You have to get everyone to safety and ensure everyone involved is safe and do the right things to get the help you deserve.
That’s why it pays to understand what to do in a car accident. Now that you know what to do after a car accident, you should be ready to take it on if it ever happens to you.
Do you want more advice for dealing with other stressful life events? Learn more by reading more posts on the blog.
