There are thousands of cars on the road on any given day. In fact, between dealerships and private sales, nearly 40 million used cars are sold to new owners each year. With this many cars traveling at the same time, there are bound to be frequent accidents. The moments after a car accident can be tense and chaotic, but it is important to do the right things as soon as possible. Otherwise, your health and finances can suffer. Here are five steps you should take following a car accident.
Check for Injuries
Before you do anything else, check on yourself and your passengers. Does anyone have any injuries? If they do, make sure you get them help immediately. Time is of the essence during an emergency. If they don’t, or they have minor injuries, you can get the car to safety and move on to the next step.
Bear in mind that not all injuries will be apparent immediately after an accident. Sometimes you won’t notice pain or damage until after the excitement and adrenaline fade away. So keep an eye on yourselves after the accident is over as well.
Call 9-1-1
All car accidents should be reported to the authorities. So, once you know that you, your passengers, and the people in the other car are all alright, call the police. Let them know there’s been an accident, and stay with your car to wait for them. Leaving the scene of an accident is a crime, so if you take off, you could get in legal trouble. This could have consequences for your finances as well get you in legal trouble.
Exchange Information
If there is another car involved in the accident, you and the other driver need to exchange information. Make sure you get their name and their insurance information. You’ll also need a phone number to contact them. While you’re likely going to be working through your respective insurance companies, you might need to contact each other in the aftermath of the accident.
Even though things can get tense, it is important that you and the other driver stay civil, no matter who was at fault. Getting in a verbal or physical fight can make things much worse. This is especially true if one of you is driving under the influence. Adding a drunk driver to the mix can make the situation more severe. In many places, a BAC over .16 can result in imprisonment, fines, and suspension of your driver’s license.
Take Pictures
Make sure you document everything for your insurance and for your own records. Take pictures of both cars to record the damage and make sure there’s a way to timestamp them. Video and written documentation can also be extremely helpful. Your memory won’t be any sharper later and you want to make sure you remember everything.
Notify Insurance
After the accident, you need to notify your insurance company and open a claim for any repairs. If you’ve been injured, you have three options to pursue compensation. You can file a claim with your own insurance or with the other driver’s insurance. If you’re not at fault, you can also sue the other driver directly in order to cover your medical bills. No matter what you decide to do, your insurance company needs to be made aware of the accident.
While there are a lot of necessary steps to take after a car accident, they are all essential to your future health, finances, and legal standing. If you ignore any of these, they can have consequences. So, if you find yourself in a car accident, keep these tips handy and follow them in order.