Being in a car accident, even if you aren’t seriously injured, can be quite a shock. However, there are some important things you need to do if you’ve been in an accident. Read on for steps to take if you find yourself in this situation.
Be safe and call for help
If you are seriously injured, try not to move. If you are not injured, you should get out of the car and move to a sidewalk or somewhere safe and out of traffic. Whether there are injuries or not, the police should be called so that they can file a report.
Stay calm and gather information
An accident is extremely stressful, but it is also important that you stay calm – don’t get angry, but don’t apologize for anything, either. You will need to get the other driver’s insurance information, as well as their contact information. If there were any witnesses, you should get their contact information, too. It’s also a good idea to take pictures of the scene. After the police have finished their work, ask for the report number, as well as the officer’s name and badge number.
Start the claims process
If possible, you may want to contact your insurance company while you are on the scene so that they can walk you through the steps of what to do. If this isn’t possible, you should call your insurance company as soon as you can. They will start the claims process by sending an adjuster to assess your vehicle’s damage, and if you have car rental insurance, they will be able to tell you how to go about getting your rental car.
Get medical help if you need to
You may have walked away from the accident all right, but the next day you notice that you don’t feel quite right. In this case, see your doctor as soon as possible so he or she can assess for any injuries.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence, you may want to consult a personal injury lawyer. If you live in New York or Florida, contact McPhillips, Fitzgerald and Cullum for a complimentary consultation.