What To Do Following A Car Wreck
NHTSA’s data shows that, on average, a car accident happens in the United States every minute of every day. Despite this, it’s common for people to think that they will never be in a crash. After all, it is unlikely that any given trip to work or the grocery store will involve a vehicle accident. However, it only takes a single accident to drastically affect your life and the steps you take at the scene of the collision can have major consequences for your wellbeing. For this reason, it’s important to know what to do after a car crash.
Safety First
The absolute most important thing after being involved in a crash is safety. You should immediately check to see if you or any of the occupants of your vehicle have been injured. If so, call 911 before taking any other actions. After calling, administer the aid that you can and try to alert others for assistance if necessary.
After checking for injuries and calling for help, it’s very important to make sure that you and any other people in your vehicle are out of harm’s way. If you can drive your vehicle, try to move it as far away from traffic as possible. If your vehicle is inoperable, exit cautiously and make your way to a safe area on foot, making sure to check for traffic while you walk.
Remain at the Scene
Even if the accident wasn’t your fault, it’s important to stay at the scene and wait for responders to arrive. Not only is it illegal to leave the site of an accident, but staying at the accident location also means that you will be able to receive medical screening for injuries you may not have noticed. Furthermore, remaining at the accident scene to give testimony to investigators and collect evidence is vital to most cases.
Collect Evidence
If you are not seriously hurt, you should begin collecting evidence so that you can prove what happened to insurers and courts. Make sure to take pictures of any injuries you or your vehicle occupants sustained as well as any damage to the vehicles involved in the wreck. It’s also a good idea to take pictures of any skid marks as well as the roadway leading up to the site of the crash. You’ll never take too many pictures, so take as many as you can.
Exchange Information
Always make sure that you take down the driver’s license and insurance policy information of all drivers involved in the accident. An easy way to make sure you have the necessary details is to take pictures of the drivers’ licenses, license plates, and proof of insurance.
You should also take some time to take short statements from any accident witnesses. It’s a good idea to check nearby homes or businesses where people may have seen the crash through a window. Don’t forget to take down the personal information of accident witnesses so that you can contact them later on.
Contact Your Insurer, The DMV, and an Attorney
If the accident involved injuries or damages worth over $1,000, you are required to contact the DMV and report the collision within 10 days of the incident. If police arrived at the accident scene, they will notify the DMV when they file their report.
You should also call your insurance company in order to report the crash. It’s important to give your insurer only the simple facts regarding the accident. If a representative asks questions that make you uncomfortable, tell them you’d like to speak to your attorney first.
Finally, call an experienced Auburn personal injury lawyer. Not all cases require a lawyer, but attorneys are typically happy to offer you advice over the phone free of charge in order to help you know whether or not you should move forward with an injury claim.
Watch YouTube Video: What to Do After a Car Accident. The video below provides some simple steps you should take following a car accident.
More Articles by Auburn Personal Injury Lawyer, Ed Smith
- One Hospitalized After Auburn Car Crash
- What Does an Auburn Personal Injury Lawyer Do?
- Head-On Crash In Auburn Fatally Injures One
Auburn Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, an Auburn personal injury lawyer. Accidents can cause major injuries. If you were hurt during a car crash, call (530) 392-9400 or (800) 404-5400 to reach me and get free, friendly advice.
My law firm has helped Auburn families and individuals with serious injury cases for 37 years. See our prior case settlements and trial verdicts or read client reviews at the below websites in order to learn more about our work:
I am a member of:
Picture: ab
:ms llo [cs 808]