Have you found yourself in the midst of a car accident?
Every year, more than 6 million car crashes occur in the United States every year. This leaves many people with expensive vehicle payments and medical bills and can leave you wondering what you should do next.
There are a number of steps you should take after experiencing a car accident, no matter who is at fault.
Keep reading to learn the 5 top steps you should take next!
- Check in with Everyone in the Car Accident
Car accidents range from little fender benders to major, severe incidents.
In every automobile accident, though, people can become injured. After the crash, immediately examine yourself and assess whether or not you think you sustained any injuries in need of urgent care. Next, check on the rest of the people in your vehicle and ascertain whether or not anyone needs immediate medical attention.
If you can, get out of your vehicle and talk to the people in the other car. Make sure no one there is hurt.
Should anyone be suffering from major injuries, call 911 right away, before taking any of the next steps. Tell them you were in an accident and need an ambulance, then describe your location and the nature of the injuries. Administer first aid and follow the directions of the 911 operator.
- Get Everyone to a Safe Location
After you’ve made sure all major injuries are being cared for, assess your surroundings. Accidents often happen in the middle of the road, leaving the involved parties vulnerable to further accidents.
Do your best to move your vehicles to the side of the road. If you cannot move your vehicle, or if the vehicle is on fire or in a state that compromises your safety, direct everyone in the cars off the road.
- Call the Authorities
Even if people aren’t injured, call 911 to request a police car meet you at the scene. When the officer arrives, they will talk to you and the other party and ask questions pertaining to the nature of the accident. They will want to know each side of the story, as this helps determine who is at fault.
If needed, the officer can also help redirect traffic, keeping the rest of the drivers safe.
- Call Insurance Companies
At this point, you and the other parties should exchange insurance information.
Call the other parties’ insurance company and tell them you’ve been in an accident with their client and would like to open a claim. Answer all of their questions and ask them about their next steps. After they get off the phone with you, they will open an independent investigation into the accident to determine fault.
You should also call your insurance company to give your side of the story, as the other people involved will likely call your insurance to open a claim as well.
Then, the insurance companies will determine who is at fault.
While at the scene, you should take pictures of the damage done to your vehicle and the other cars. The insurance companies will likely want to see these photos, as they give them valuable information about the incident.
- Call a Lawyer
Next, consider calling a lawyer, especially if you sustained major injuries.
Why?
Insurance companies can either decide you were at fault when you weren’t and not offer you a payment or offer you something that won’t cover the cost of your damages. Lawyers ensure you get the money you’re owed.
Afraid of going to court? You don’t need to be. In fact, most car accident cases settle out of court.
Get a car accident lawyer today!
Need Legal Help?
If you’ve been in a car accident, you’ve likely been wondering what you should do.
No matter what type of accident you’ve been in, making sure everyone is safe, calling the authorities, phoning insurance companies, and getting in touch with a lawyer are musts if you hope to get back up on your feet. This helps ensure everyone makes it out of the accident alright and you get your damages paid for.
If you need more legal advice, check out the rest of our website today!