Accidents are every driver’s biggest dread. There are numerous crucial and imperative actions you must take, both immediately following and down the road, whether it’s a catastrophic collision or a tiny fender-bender. You should be ready and contact auto accident attorneys to take guidance for further legal steps along with the following advices.
The Seconds Following a Collision
Immediately following an accident, you’ll probably feel startled or afraid. Pull your car to side of the road to move away from incoming traffic and maybe from another accident. To alert other vehicles, turn on your warning lights if your automobile is immobile. Before attempting to exit your automobile, make sure it is off and that the area is secure.
Take stock of the other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians involved in the collision, as well as yourself and any passengers. In the event that somebody has suffered a serious injury, dial 911 right away. You can decide whether or not an ambulance is needed for minor injuries, but a medical professional should still examine the patient.
Make a Police Call
Calling the police to file an accident report is a good idea after an accident. In some areas, you are truly required to follow the law, even in minor accidents. A police report on the collision can be extremely helpful when corresponding with your insurance provider later on. The police will accurately describe the scene and complete the report. You can go to a nearby police station to report the collision if the police are unable to arrive at the location.
Interchange Information
You might wish to document as much of the situation as you can, even if the police report will also have all the necessary details. Note the names of the parties involved, the licence plate numbers, and any vehicles’ insurance details. The other driver’s insurance company name and policy number should be ascertained, and you should also provide them yours.
Additionally, you can find out how to get in touch with any other drivers or witnesses. In case you want to follow up or ask the police for more information, it’s a good idea to write down the name or badge number of the officers who were on the scene. You can also take pictures of the scene with your phone’s camera. This will be crucial when you submit a claim to your insurance provider.
Document the Damages
Take pictures of any damage you see to your vehicle. Take pictures of the vehicle from all sides and from all angles so that your insurance agent can see the full amount of the damage. You will speak with your insurance agent or a company representative who handles accident claims, and they will assist you in filing a claim.
Your outcome will be influenced by the severity of the event as well as your insurance policy. If your automobile is too damaged to drive, you can be given a rental car, or you might be qualified for medical insurance if you were hurt. Get as much information as you can from your insurance provider, along with a time frame for when your claim will be paid. Your insurance company might send a towing firm they partner with to pick up your damaged automobile or arrange to have it sent to one of the garages in their network if towing is necessary. Your insurance plan might provide coverage for these procedures.
Receive Medical Care
Frequently, the pain from an accident victim’s injuries won’t manifest itself for a day or two following the collision. Accident victims frequently believe they are well after the incident, only to awaken a day or two later with neck or shoulder ache. Even if you were not in pain at the time of the accident or fell unconscious, you should still see your doctor just in case. You should go to the emergency hospital if you did lose consciousness or even just felt lightheaded or disoriented following the accident. It’s possible that you have sustained a concussion or another brain injury, which could have long-term negative effects.
Repair your Car
You can remove your car from the site and drive home if it is still operable. Make sure your car hasn’t sustained any damage that could lead to more significant issues; frequently, post-accident damage, such as water damage from a window that can’t close tightly, is not covered by insurance.
You can phone your insurance provider and inform them that you have damage that needs to be repaired right away. They usually send you to a repair shop to verify the need for the repairs after asking for pictures of the damage. In order to be reimbursed when your claim is processed, they might also ask you to keep the receipts for any urgent repairs.
Have a repair shop give you an estimate on the total damages to your automobile and the cost of fixing them while you wait for your claim to be processed. Bring your automobile to as many shops as you can to get price quotes. Keep a thorough list of everything that requires fixing and the approximate cost. You can be confident the money will cover all repairs after your insurance company has processed your claim.