On average, there are 16,438 car accidents per day in the US, amounting to a whopping 6 million car accidents per year. It’s safe to say that every individual will be in at least one car accident in their lifetime.
Aside from ensuring that each trip in your car is a safe one, knowing what to do if and when a car accident does occur is just as important.
First and foremost, try to remain calm so that you can properly assess the situation. Pull over if you are able to in order to free up traffic flow, and look for injuries. After determining if anyone was injured in the accident, there are important steps you must take.
Here are 7 key steps to take immediately after a car accident.
1. Call 911 and Stay at the Scene Unless Instructed by Law Enforcement
You will want to phone emergency services to make them aware of the accident, especially in the event that you cannot move either vehicle from the road or if there are serious injuries and/or fatalities. The operator will instruct you on what to do next, but do not leave the scene unless instructed to do so.
When either party leaves the scene of an accident, by law they forfeit their rights to sue for damages or press any charges. In the event that the individual leaves, the accident will be automatically deemed a hit-and-run, which is a criminal offense and punishable by law.
2. Exchange Driver and Insurance Information
Before you approach the other driver, it is important that you do not apologize, admit fault, or make any statement that can be used against you in court. Leave the investigation and fault determination to the experts, and just focus on examining damage and exchanging information.
In order for your insurance company to process a damage claim, you will need to supply them with the other party’s information in order to subrogate from their insurer. As well as their insurance, get their driver’s license information, because this holds key info like their name, address, and license validity.
A good rule of thumb is to take pictures of both their insurance card and their driver’s license. Make sure to keep your phone out, as these won’t be the last photos you will take.
3. Assess the Car Accident Damage
With your phone still out, take photos of your vehicle from all sides, especially with the damage visible, along with photos of the other party’s vehicle. This is where the old adage of ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’ rings especially true. Visual images will go a lot further in the event of a lawsuit as well as police report filings.
In addition to taking photos of the vehicles, you will want to make sure the license plates are visible. Take photos of the surrounding area as well as street signs to provide context to your images. It’s also a good idea to time stamp your photos.
As a preventative measure, keep these photos backed up and filed with any documents regarding the accident, as sometimes lawsuits happen months after the event if there are delayed injuries. It’s best to be prepared and overly cautious in these situations.
4. File a Police Report
Each city and state will have different rules, regulations, and processes on filing police reports. When you call 9-1-1, there will be a case opened for your collision and a case number provided in order to continue filing your report.
In Lexington, KY, collision reports can be accessed online, in person at the station, or by mail. Your best bet is to try and use the quickest method possible, as the incident will still be fresh in your mind.
5. Decide Whether You Want to Pursue an Insurance Claim
Once all the above steps have been completed, it will be your decision to put in a claim to your insurance provider. Make sure you tell your representative all the details of the accident, including the police report number, the other party’s information, and any other information you have collected in order to speed up the process.
Follow up with your provider to check on the status & progress of your claim. You may also want to discuss the impact the claim will make on your coverage and premiums so as to avoid surprises.
6. Call an Attorney
In the event you or the other party sustain an injury due to the accident, it is in your best interest to contact car accident attorneys. This will save you major headaches in the long run and also ascertain that you are receiving the maximum amount of compensation necessary in the event that you are injured.
At a minimum, you should contact a car accident attorney for a small consultation for your own peace of mind.
7. Don’t Be Too Hard on Yourself
Accidents happen to the best of drivers! Don’t beat yourself up over what happened, and do your best to move forward toward a positive outcome. Be comforted in the knowledge that you did your best during the car accident aftermath.
Now You’re Prepared
Armed with the 7 key steps to deal with what to do after a car accident mentioned above, you will hopefully be able to keep a level head and get through the aftermath of a car accident with relative ease.
Be sure to share this article with your loved ones so that they too can be prepared for the aftermath of an accident. Also, don’t forget to check out the rest of the content on our site!
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