To face a car accident whether it is a minor or major one, can be a stressful and nerve-wracking experience. Therefore, one must be certain and well-informed about what steps to take afterward if one ever faces an accident. Well, the process of handling the car accident starts at the scene where the accident took place.
It starts with making certain that everyone involved in the accident is safe. God forbid, but if you ever find yourself in an accident, then you must follow the given tips in the guide to assist you with what you should do next. To learn more in detail, keep reading.
1. Stay Calm And Check For Injuries
It is indeed a stressful and panicky situation, but keeping a cool head will help you manage the situation more effectively which otherwise will get on your nerves. In case you face an accident, the first step after gathering your consciousness or senses would be to check yourself and the people in the vehicle present with you and make sure everyone is safe.
If you find anybody hurt then call 911 or ask someone else to do it for you. In case you find yourself in a serious injury then instead of moving to help yourself, wait for some help.
2. Get Your Vehicle Out Of The Road
After making sure that everyone is safe, try to clear the road by moving your vehicle out of the road. Get your vehicle to the side of the road. In case you are unable to pull your vehicle then seek some approaching vehicles help or arrange a tow truck to get the vehicle off the road. If the accident occurred at night then it is best to turn on your vehicle’s hazard lights to alert all the other approaching vehicles so that they can see you.
3. Check For Damage To Both Vehicles
Once you have made sure that you are in good condition and not majorly hurt, try to assess the condition of the vehicle. You must try to document the whole scene using your phone, take pictures, make videos, and record testimonials of the witnesses.
Documenting the whole situation will give you an advantage in case you are the victim as you will be able to put strong proof to receive compensation for the bodily and material harm done to you. In case you are unable to take pictures then try to draw a diagram representing the whole accident situation. This must be done immediately when the accident is fresh in your memory.
4. Report The Accident To Law Enforcement
When the accident you encounter is serious then you must call the law enforcement agency that too immediately. Record your statement to the police once they arrive. Police can create a report of the accident, you must get a copy of that report from the police so that you can file for an insurance claim.
5. Decide Whether To File An Insurance Claim
If you have insurance for a vehicle when involved in an accident, or medical insurance then you must file a claim to receive fair monetary compensation. The insurance policy’s collision coverage will cover the damages done to your car, whereas medical insurance coverage will assist cover the cost of medical injuries that you suffered during the accident.
