A car accident is a very unfortunate event that a lot of people suffer from every day, however, many people don’t know how to act after an accident and this leads to them making decisions that wouldn’t help their case later. You need to know about what should be your course of action if you find yourself in one of these accidents. This will not only save you some money but will also help your case in a scenario where the case is dragged to court.
Today, we’re going to take a look at all the things you can do and what you should do in the event of an accident. Remember to memorize these steps well so that you don’t forget them in the heat of an accident. So let’s get into it and discover the proper steps that you are required to take immediately after an accident.
1. Check For Injuries
This is the most important thing that you should do first and foremost. Nothing is more important than your physical health and getting a proper check-up will let you know if there’s been any major damage to your body. Most of the symptoms of an accident show up instantly but sometimes, the more serious injuries don’t show themselves until a few days later.
A medical checkup will also help your insurance case by making any of your injuries official and documented. This will help you down the line when your insurance provider might try to lowball you by offering a lower compensation.
2. Document Everything
The second most important thing after your personal health is that you document the entire accident. The documentation will include clicking cameras for photographs, recording videos, and noting down the names and numbers. You should take pictures of the crashed vehicles, your injuries, license plates, and even the other driver who crashed into you.
Any decent camera will do the job but a better quality camera will capture all the details. Most of the time, people have their smartphones with them that enables capturing photos rather quickly although if you happen to be looking for a professional quality camera, you should try to opt for mirrorless options as they are more convenient and lightweight than a DSLR but still capture better quality photos and videos when compared to a mobile phone. This evidence will help you bolster your case if the other party drags it to the court and can make the difference between winning or losing the case.
3. Call The Police
This one is an obvious action but most people make the mistake of fleeing the scene or avoid calling the police due to unfounded fears. The job of the police is to help you out and if you don’t inform them about what happened then they won’t be able to help you. The police records will also be useful for getting vehicle damage insurance or health insurance compensation. Remember to tell the police the true details only and don’t fabricate anything as it will end up doing more harm than good.
4. Exchange Information
If the police don’t arrive on time then it’s your responsibility to obtain the names, addresses, and mobile numbers of all the drivers as well as the passengers involved in the accident. Doing this will make it easier for you to present your case and you’ll face lesser issues than if you hadn’t taken any of this information. Also, remember that witnesses are just as important and you should try to get their details too since they can present a statement during the time of investigation or court case.
5. Stop
Last but not the least, it’s essential that you stop doing what you were doing as soon as the accident happens. If you had an important meeting after the accident then cancel it and even if it’s your wedding then delay that too. Many people think that driving away and evading the scene is the easy option but they make a massive mistake as they can be easily tracked by the police. You should also move to a safer area and try not to move your vehicle from its position as long as you can since it’ll present important details about the accident scene.
All of these steps are the bare minimum you need to follow when you’re in an accident. You might’ve saved your life but the battle only begins from here on out if the people involved in the accident start a legal battle. You need to keep in mind that you wish to obtain adequate compensation from your insurance provider and you also need the proper evidence in case you have to defend yourself. If you follow these steps then you’re probably in the safe zone and you can easily handle the situation if it goes south.
