- Feb. 13
- Richard Parker
Car Accident: What You Should Do After a Crash
Every year, millions of car accidents occur around the world. If possible, the first thing you should do after you’re involved in an accident is to switch on the hazard lights. This is only possible if you can move, which would mean you did not sustain serious injuries.
According to statistics, a significant percentage of accidents cause property damage and personal injuries. Therefore, it is important that you know what to do when in any car crash as some innocent mistakes can cause you legal problems.
Tips on What to Do After a Car Accident
Call the Police
Immediately an accident occurs, try to reach for your phone and call the police. This is important even if there are no severe injuries. Also, make sure you call 911 to alert the medics if there are any injured persons. However, you shouldn’t try to move any of the vehicles until the police arrive at the scene.
Check for Injured Persons
After an accident, the first thing you should do is call an ambulance while checking for any injured persons. You should never underestimate the impact of a car crash. It may look minor, but cause bad injuries to those involved.
Move Away From the Car
You should not move your vehicle until the police arrive at the scene. However, you can move to a safe distance after you put up the emergency triangles to alert other motorists. Staying inside the car increases the chances of getting hit by other cars. If your vehicle had explosive content, alert other drivers to get out of the way.
Contact Your Insurer
After taking all safety measures, call your insurer. They should know as soon as possible so that they get to the scene on time. If they are not able to get the accident scene, they can talk to the police. You should never admit liability even when you know that you are at fault. Let your insurance company deal with the claim that may be filed by the other party.
Take Photos of the Scene
As you wait for the police to arrive, take pictures with your smartphone. Clear images of the accident scene will come in handy and help your truck wreck lawyers in winning your settlement case. Some accident victims try to twist the story to get huge compensation than they deserve. Therefore, you should also capture any injuries you and other people in the accident scene have sustained. However, you should not interfere with police investigations.
Decide Whether or Not to File a Claim
After the police get to the accident scene and it’s proven you are at fault, you can choose to file a claim or not. For minor damages, you can pay cash. However, if there are costly repairs to be done, you should leave your insurer to deal with them.
Final Thoughts
After surviving a road accident, despite being lucky, you will definitely feel shaken. However, you shouldn’t let the shock distract you from doing the above essential things. They will save you from more complicated issues that may arise a few days after the car crash. T0o avoid paying high out-of-pocket expenses; ensure you have a good auto insurance.