What You Should Do After a Car Accident

When you’re driving, it’s unlikely you will be involved in an accident. In fact, most people drive for years without ever having an accident. However, unfortunate events can and do happen, and when they do, the aftermath can be stressful and overwhelming. To make things easier, here’s what you should do after a car accident.

Check for Safety

First and foremost, make sure that everyone involved in the accident is safe, uninjured, and out of danger. If there are any injuries, get them treated as quickly as possible. If there is a risk of fire or explosion, leave the scene and call 911. If there are hazardous materials leaking, do not attempt to clean them up. Wait for emergency personnel to respond and deal with the situation.

Exchange Info

Whether or not you are at fault, it’s important to get the contact information of everyone involved in the accident. Get their names and phone numbers, their insurance company and policy information, and license plate numbers. This will help you when it comes to filing an insurance claim, as well as in any legal proceedings that may follow. If you are injured, this information can also be used to get you the medical treatment you need.

Repair Your Car

If your car is drivable, you should take it to a licensed repairer to get it fixed. Get a written estimate of the repair work and a written estimate of the costs for parts and labor. Once you have the estimates, you can submit them to your insurance company. The insurance company will review the estimates and compensate you based on what they feel is reasonable.

Take Photos

Take photos of any visible marks on the road or damage to the surrounding area, such as bricks, guard rails, or curbs that were hit or broken. This will help with any insurance claims or legal proceedings that may follow. You never know if the other driver may try to falsely accuse you of causing the accident. If you have photos of the scene of the accident, it can help prove that you weren’t at fault.

Consider a Lawyer

If there are any injuries, damage, or legal proceedings following the accident, you may want to consider hiring a personal injury attorney. This is especially true if you were seriously injured (such as with a broken bone, concussion, etc.) or if the accident resulted in a fatality. The choice to hire a lawyer is up to you and depends on your particular situation. Although hiring a lawyer does not guarantee that you will win your case, it does give you a better chance of a positive outcome.

After a car accident, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and stressed out by all the things you have to do. To make things easier, you need to know exactly what you need to do after an accident so you can move past it quickly and painlessly. If you remain calm, focused, and positive, you may get through this difficult situation much more easily.