Have you ever been involved in a car accident that left you frazzled? Maybe the only thing that you thought of doing after this is calling the police. While it is a good thing to do, there are other crucial steps that you need to take. Some of these crucial steps are discussed below.
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Check Your Well-Being and That Of Other Passengers
You are likely to get confused and feel shaky after an auto accident. If this is the case, try to relax and focus. After this, assess your injuries. You might not feel any pain after the wreck since your adrenaline levels are likely to go high. However, if you notice that you have been severely injured, request emergency medical attention. If the injuries are not severe, check on the passengers and the other driver. You should request immediate medical attention if you notice that a passenger or driver is seriously injured.
After this:
- Pull the car into some safe space to prevent it from causing a hazard on the road.
- If this is impossible, turn the car’s hazard lights on and use the road flares to alert other drivers that the car is not moving.
- If you notice the smell of leaking gas, get out of the car immediately and tell other people to get out too.
Contact The Police
Now that your car is in a safe place, contact the police and tell them that you have been involved in a car accident. The police will fill out an auto accident report, recording details about what happed and the parties involved in the accident. Your attorney will use this report when evaluating your legal case.
When the police are done with the auto accident report, request the officer’s name and badge number in charge of the case. You can also request the auto accident report number. All this information will help you to easily obtain a copy of the report when it is ready.
Gather Important Information
You might need to file a case concerning the car wreck. Therefore, you need to gather all the important information concerning the auto accident. For instance, get the other driver’s name, license number, phone number, and address. Also, get the other car’s plate number and insurance information.
After this, record all the details regarding the car accident. For instance, record the time and date on which the auto accident happened, where it happened, and the directions to which you and the other driver were traveling. You can also give details on what you saw happen.
Ask if there is any person who witnessed the auto accident. If there is, request their contact information. Your auto accident attorney might need to contact them to get their recollection of the things that happened.
Take many photos as your insurance company might need photo evidence. You should take photos of the cars’ locations, the injured people, any damaged property, and any nearby road signs. You should also take a photo of the street in which the accident occurred.
Contact Insurance Companies and An Auto Accident Attorney
Contact your insurance company and let them know that you were involved in the accident. The insurance company will tell you what it needs to process your claim. It will also tell what you should expect as your claim is being processed.
If you were not the one who caused the accident, the other party’s insurance company should contact you within a few days. If it does not, contact it and let it know that you were involved in an accident with one of its clients. Remember only to give basic information when speaking to this company since it can use what you say against you.
After this, contact one of the auto accident attorneys in your state. For instance, if you live in New York, contact a car accident lawyer in New York. Tell the lawyer about the auto accident, any injuries you suffered from, and any other important information. The lawyer will evaluate your case and help you get the compensation that you deserve.
An auto accident can leave you frazzled. However, if you follow the above steps, you will evade unnecessary worries. That way, you will focus on dealing with your insurance company to have your car repaired.
