Car accidents are extremely common. Many of us are terrified of things like plane crashes that have a drastically smaller chance of happening, yet we feel safe in a car. You should be as cautious as possible on the road to avoid car accidents, but if it does happen, you need to be prepared.
It’s best to know what you need to do if you are ever in a car accident, as the whole thing could go better for you both financially and medically. Here are some steps you should take immediately after a car accident:
1. Stay on the Scene
No matter what you do or how the accident occurred, you need to stop if you were involved in an accident. People that get into a car accident are bound by law to stay on the scene so that the matter can be resolved properly. It doesn’t matter how much damage you did or didn’t make, stick around.
2. Check Yourself and Others for Injuries
Check your body for injuries and see if you feel pain anywhere. Remember that you will be experiencing an increase in adrenaline, meaning that you will feel less pain. This does not mean that your injuries are less severe so it’s crucial to check yourself thoroughly.
Also, make sure to check the well-being of your passengers if you had any and check with the other parties involved in the accident.
3. Move to a Safe Distance
In case there is oil leakage, or the crash site is unsafe for some reason, make sure to move away from it to a safe distance. Take all the other people with you and other’s that were in the crash. If it’s safe, move your car away as well so that it doesn’t get damaged any further.
4. Call the Police
No matter if we’re talking about a large collision with multiple vehicles involved or you just had a simple fender-bender, you need to call the police. In most countries, you are legally obligated to do this. The officer who arrives will make an accident report at the scene.
5. Seek Help
In case you are hurt, make sure to ask for help over the phone and request an ambulance as well. You need to ensure that everything is OK with your body before you can worry about other things.
6. Get as Much Information as You Can
In case the police don’t come right away make sure to get information about the people involved and about the crash itself. This is a good idea, even if the police are coming.
Get the name, number, and address of everyone involved including passengers as well. Also, make sure to get insurance information from everyone. If the police are involved, ask for a police report number so that you can get all this information any time.
7. Consider Your Rights
If you feel that you’ve been damaged either financially, physically, or mentally, file your claim immediately after the accident. It’s generally a good idea to avoid giving statements to insurance companies before consulting your lawyer to avoid compromising your case.
Getting into a car accident can put a lot of stress on anyone, so make sure that you stick to these things in case that happens. For expert assistance filing a car accident lawsuit, reach out to Vasilatos Injury Law today!
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