By Subhasree Nag
No matter how safely you drive on the roads, there is always a chance that you might fall victim to a car accident. According to a report made by the USA’s road safety department, more than six million car accidents happen every year. Fortunately, most of them result in minor bumps and scratches.
However, two out of every ten accidents are major and result in injuring people. A car accident can be very dangerous and, for some, can be very traumatizing. Some couldn’t get out of the shock or even know what to do right after a car accident.
Things To Do Right After A Car Accident
If you are involved in a car accident, no matter how minor or major it is, affects you mentally and it is always important to follow accidents normally to ensure that the accidents do not become more complicated. In this article, we will talk about what needs to be done right after a car accident.
1. Stop
It is very important that you stop your car after the accident. We have seen most people run away from the accident scene right after the car accident. This action can lead to hit and run crime charges against you.
If you ever get involved in a car accident, whether you are at fault or not, stop your car at the accident scene. This will help you against some of the charges.
Even if the accident is a minor one, do not run away from the accident sport as doing so may lead to legal proceedings against you. Moreover, try to remain as calm as possible and avoid any irrational with the other driver.
2. Protect The Scene
A road accident is a very dangerous event. If you do not protect the accident scene, others might get involved in the accidents. You can prevent further accidents by simply setting up flares and or keeping your flasher in. This will warn other drivers on the roads about car accidents.
Protecting the car accident scene becomes mandatory if the accidents have taken place at night. During the night, your car light might not be visible enough. Hence, you should have a flashlight to keep you safe while you wait for people to come to your rescue.
3. Check For Injuries
The first and most important step is to check yourself and others involved in the accident for injuries. Your health and well-being should always be the top priority.
Make sure to first examine yourself for any injury and look out for others. Assess the level of injury of the people who were involved in the accident. Also, assess whether any third party has sustained an injury so that you can claim the compensation amount payable under third party car insurance.
4. Seek Medical Attention
A car accident can be frightening; you might not be able to make any instance decision. However, you still need to find a little bit of courage you have left to ensure what kind of injuries you have sustained. No matter how minor injuries you have sustained, it is always advisable to seek medical attention.
There are some injuries that do not surface right after an accident in which the victim believes they are safe. To ensure that you do not have sustained any injuries similar to that, seek medical attention.
5. Call Police
Once you have evaluated your injuries, it is always a good option to call the Police. Police can help you with the clearing of accidents and ensure every injured is reached at a nearby hospital.
In addition to that, police reports are necessary for filing insurance claims. The police report is the first documentation of the case, and hence, every insurance company asks the claimants to evaluate their claims.
6. Document the Scene
While waiting for the authorities, gather information by taking photos of the scene, including damage, skid marks, and road conditions. Collect contact information from witnesses.
7. Exchange Information
Exchange important information with the other parties involved, facilitating the insurance claim process.
8. Notify Your Insurance Company
As soon as possible, notify your insurance company about the accident. They will guide you through the claims process.
9. Call Your Lawyer
Perhaps the most important decision right after a car accident is to call for an attorney. Your attorney can protect your right and can help you get the maximum claims out of the field compensation of insurance claims.
Often, insurance companies want to take statements of the victim of the insurance claimant’s right after the accident. Hence, it is important that you have a lawyer by your side. James McKiernan Lawyers are the best in the business. If you ever find yourself in need of car accident lawyers, they can be a good pick.
10. File an Insurance Claim
Promptly and accurately file an insurance claim, providing necessary details and documentation collected at the scene. Most insurance companies require you to submit a First Notice of Loss (FNOL) to initiate the claims process formally. Provide the necessary information about the accident and the damage incurred.
Once the claim is initiated, a claims adjuster will be assigned to assess the damages. Cooperate fully with the adjuster, providing any additional information or documentation they may require.
Conclusion
There you have it; now you know what the things that you need to do right after a car accident are. Although there are many things that need to be done, we think that the points we mentioned above are most important and are needed to be followed right after a car accident.
We hope that this article was helpful and you could find the things you were looking for. If there are any other queries, you can drop them down below.
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