You love your vehicle. To you, it is more than just a means of transportation—it is an extension of who you are. It gets you where you need to go, and it was impeccably designed to keep you safe during unfortunate accidents.
Collisions can be traumatic for all involved parties. For car enthusiasts, the experience can really be devastating. Remember this: there are many right and wrong ways to handle an auto accident. The best possible approach is to protect yourself, your passengers, and your vehicle in any way you can.
Here, we review six useful post-accident tips to help make the process as pain-free as possible.
Move to a Safe Area
Many crashes happen right in the middle of a busy intersection. This creates the potential to distract drivers who are passing by. Since distracted driving can result in more ill-fated collisions, it is important to be proactive. If all involved parties are safe and the vehicles can be moved, relocate the impacted vehicles to a safer area, like the shoulder of the road.
If you are unable to move the involved vehicles, there are other steps to take to protect the area. For example, putting your flashers on is a simple step to help prevent further accidents.
Check for Injuries
When dealing with impact, it is incredibly important to check all drivers, passengers, and pedestrians for injuries after the accident. For situations like concussions, the affected person may not immediately feel the effects. Even seemingly minor symptoms like dizziness should be checked by a medical professional. For serious injuries, call 911 immediately.
This is important both for your personal safety and for the potential aftermath of the accident. If you end up sustaining lasting damage resulting from road accident injuries, you may need to hire an attorney. Reports from medics on the scene can help you recover damages.
Contact the Police
Even in the situation of a minor accident, it can be useful to have a police report on file for your insurance company. Regardless of the severity of the crash itself, having the documentation never hurts.
In situations where the involved parties are struggling to determine who is at fault for the accident, a police representative can also serve as an impartial third party. Let them objectively assess the collision and record it properly.
Take Photos
A valuable step in documenting an accident is taking thorough photos. In the insurance claims process, photos can support the claim. Document all involved vehicles and ensure that the photos provide an adequate representation of all incurred damages. Depending on your insurance company, they may have a convenient app that will give you the ability to upload your photos right from the scene.
In addition to photographing the involved vehicles, it is important to take photos of any visible injuries after the accident. If for some reason you cannot take these photos at the scene of the crash, document them as soon as possible afterward.
Exchange Information
By obtaining names, contact details, and the insurance information of everyone who was affected by the accident, it can help the aftermath of the crash be as smooth as possible. Typically, the involved police officer will assist with the exchange of information.
Protect Your Rights
Depending on the circumstances of the accident and how you were impacted, there are times when it is best to not handle it alone. By consulting an attorney, you can protect your rights. This could potentially lead to compensation for the trouble that you, your passengers, and your vehicle have endured. Most personal injury attorneys will work on a contingency fee basis, which means that there is no legal fee unless the attorney successfully recovers compensation for the injury.
By knowing what steps to take in the event of an accident, you can protect yourself—and your beloved vehicle.