car accident

8 Things to Do After a Car Accident

No matter if it’s your fault or someone else’s, there are many reasons why you might find yourself in a car accident.


No matter if it’s your fault or someone else’s, there are many reasons why you might find yourself in a car accident. If this happens to you, it’s important that you know how to act and stay calm. There is no need to panic if you follow these simple steps.

Stop right away

First of all, it’s important to stop right away but in such a way that will not obstruct the traffic around you if possible. A simple fender-bender means that both cars are still running and you are able to move out of traffic. If the accident is more serious and you are able to leave your vehicle, leave everything as is, place emergency triangles to warn other drivers, and get to a safe distance from the site of the crash.

See whether anyone needs medical attention

Once you are out of the way, you should check yourself and your passengers for injuries. See whether anyone in the other vehicles was hurt. Use the first-aid kit to help those who are injured if you are able to do so. If anyone is stuck in the car, don’t try to move them as that might make the situation worse.

Call the police and an ambulance

Calling emergency services is the next step so make sure you get the police to write up a report. Make sure you don’t say anything that might incriminate you while talking to the officers. Of course, an ambulance is also necessary if anyone was injured. Even if there are no visible injuries, you and other parties should still get checked out by professionals as you might have a concussion, internal bleeding, or some other issue that is not immediately visible.

Document the damage done to you and your property

Take photos of your injuries as soon as you’re able. If you made it out unscathed, you should document all the damage that was done to your vehicle. Photograph the scene from as many angles as you can, as that will show a clear picture of what happened and where which vehicle was at the time of the accident.

Exchange information with other parties

You should also exchange information with other parties that were involved. Get their names, addresses, phone numbers, and insurance info. Furthermore, you should also write down the make, model, and license plate numbers of every vehicle that was involved. Finally, you should talk to the witnesses to see whether anyone would like to make a statement about what they saw.

Get in touch with your insurance provider

After you have everyone’s information, you can contact your insurance provider. Of course, you first need to understand what your insurance policy covers. It’s best to contact your insurance company while you’re still on the scene as they can tell you what they need in order to process your claim. If the other driver was at fault, perhaps their insurance will cover your damage. Just remember that you should never accept settlements while on the scene. The other party might offer you cash to resolve the issue quickly. However, that means that you won’t be able to take any action if you start experiencing symptoms of your injuries a few days later.

Look into compensation

In certain cases, your insurance claim might get denied. Even if you were not at fault, this could happen. That is why you need personal injury lawyers on your side as they can guide you through this entire process. You might be entitled to compensation and damages, so turning to experienced professionals in this field is your best course of action. Additionally, make sure your attorney is present when giving a statement to your insurance provider as they can advise you on how to proceed. Of course, you might also be able to sue the other parties involved in the accident, so look into that as well.

Shop around for new car insurance

As a result of the accident, your car insurance rates could skyrocket. Even though some companies offer accident forgiveness, others might double your rate. This is why you should shop around a bit to find a new car insurance policy that has better rates.

You never know when you might get in a car accident. Make sure you are prepared and know how to act ahead of time.

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