What to Do When You’re in a Car Accident

It happens when you least expect it. Another car hits your vehicle from behind or runs a red light and runs into the side of your vehicle. Perhaps you and another car backed into each other or had a head-on collision. A car accident can leave you feeling nervous and confused even if it’s not your fault. It’s important to know what to do when you’re in a car accident.

Always Stop in an Accident

No matter how minor the incident, you must stop when you’re involved in a car accident. You want to make contact with the other party, but you shouldn’t admit fault. It’s important to not take the blame for the accident. You should leave the talking to the insurance company.

Call the Police

The first thing you should do after a car accident is called the police. Many people won’t do this with a minor incident, but it’s important to have legal documentation in any accident. If there are injuries to anyone, you will want to make sure an emergency medical car is on the way as well.

Talk Only to the Police

While you wait for the police officer to show up, don’t talk about the accident with the other party involved or any witnesses. At most, you can check to see if anyone is injured and needs medical attention. Only discuss the accident with the officer filling out the accident report, any medical personnel you need to see, and your insurance provider.

Get Information on Other Parties Involved

Make sure you get the names, phone numbers, and addresses of anyone else who is involved in the accident. The police officer may provide you with this information, but you should ask for it if you don’t get it. Get the name of the insurance carrier for the other party along with the make and model of the vehicle and license plate number.

Record As Much Information As You Can

Write down information about the accident as soon as you have the opportunity. You can forget details in just a few hours, so don’t rely on your memory. Write down the time of the accident and the street or address where it occurred. Note where you were traveling and which direction the other car was going. If you have your phone, you should also take pictures of the other vehicles. Get the name and badge number of the police officer handling the accident.

Contact Your Insurance Provider

As soon as you are released from the accident site, you should contact your insurance provider to file a claim. Provide them with as much information as possible to move the claim along quickly. They will need to get a copy of the police report as part of their process.

Not all claims go smoothly. The other person may not admit fault, which means their insurance company is likely to fight your claim as well. In serious accidents, you may need to contact an attorney to represent your interests and ensure you receive the maximum compensation for your injuries and damages. In other cases, the other person’s insurance policy may not cover all your expenses. You may need an attorney to help you get compensated for damages not paid by the insurance provider. Following these guidelines, if you are involved in a car accident will leave you with the best results. 

For the legal help you need, contact B&D Law Group, APLC. Call (888) 977-2238 for a free consultation.