What to Do In Case of a Car Accident?
If you have a car accident, there are some things that you must do to protect yourself. And the first thing that you need to do is stop at the site of the accident. This is your legal obligation. Even if it is a minor fender bender and you think that no one is hurt, you must pull over immediately.
The professional car accident attorneys at MG Law suggest that one should do the following things in case of an automobile accident, even if it’s a minor one.
1. Check Yourself and the Passengers for Injuries
Check to find out if any passenger requires urgent medical help. Do not indulge in any arguments or discussions over who is at fault. Just make sure all the people in the car, including you, are fine without any major injuries. Alternatively, if anyone is hurt and requires assistance, call an ambulance immediately.
If possible, try not to move the car unless it is causing a traffic problem. If there is no need, wait for the police to come before moving cars.
2. Contact the Police
Even if no one on either side has sustained any major injuries, it is advisable to call the police and report the accident. You may need the police report to file a claim with your insurance company.
The arriving police officers will fill out an accident report and carefully document the scene. In case the police do not arrive at the site, you can visit the nearest police station to lodge a report. This police report will make it easy to file for vehicle damages with your insurance company.
3. Exchange Information
After making sure that everyone is alright and uninjured, you must exchange necessary information with the other driver. This includes his full name and contact information, his respective insurance agency, and his policy number. Apart from that, also note his driver’s license and license number plate. Lastly, you must make notes of the color, type, and model of the vehicle involved in the accident.
All this information will come in handy while filing an insurance claim. Your insurance company will carefully review your claim and verify the information provided by you before authorizing any compensation.
4. Carefully Document the Accident
In order to protect yourself, you must carefully record all details of the accident. When the police reach the site, tell them precisely what happened. If you are not certain about particular facts, inform the officer. Do not try to guess or speculate.
If they ask you about any injuries sustained and you are not sure, say that you are not sure instead of a blank no. Many times, the injuries become apparent a few hours after the accident.
5. Take Pictures
Use your mobile phone to take pictures of the accident site. Take photographs that show visible damage to the vehicle. If you have sustained any injuries, take pictures of that as well. But make sure to not interrupt the police investigation in your bid to take photographs.
You may also want to call your report of the accident to your insurance agency. They can tell you what exactly they will require to process your accident claim.
