Have you never been in a car accident before?
You’d be surprised how lucky you are to have never experienced one.
Car accidents are more common than you might think.
Reports show that the yearly cost of car accidents in the United States is $281 billion.
It would help if you were prepared for when a car accident happens to you.
If you don’t know what to do after the crash, this post will help from checking for injuries to the decision to sell your total loss vehicle.
Below are five steps you need to take to get the help you deserve.
After the Crash: 5 Crucial Steps to Take Immediately After a Car Accident
Look for Injuries
Before you start walking around the accident scene, you need to make sure everybody is safe.
Start by making sure you don’t have any injuries.
If you find yourself injured, try not to move around too much.
Any other movement can aggravate your injury and make things worse.
If you appear to be okay, check on the other car.
Call 911 if anybody needs medical attention; scripps.org shares how to know if your medical concern is an emergency.
Get to Safety
If everyone is safe, you need to get off the road.
Move any vehicles that are drivable off to the side.
Don’t worry too much if it’s hard to get a car safely.
You want to minimize your time on the road yourself.
Get everyone involved off to the side as soon as you can.
Call the Police
The next step is to get the police involved.
You want them to come to the scene so that they create a police report.
You need this report to give to your insurance company.
If the police don’t come to the scene, you still need to file a report.
Head to the police station and have them draw up a report for you.
Document Everything
You need all the information you have when you file an insurance claim.
The first step is to take pictures of the car accident.
You want to document all damage to every vehicle involved.
Once you get pictures, you need to collect the other driver’s information.
Get their license plate number, driver’s license, name, insurance, and other relevant information.
File an Insurance Claim
It’s time to file your insurance claim once you have your police report and documentation.
Even if you file your insurance claim with the other driver’s insurance company, you still need to notify your insurance provider.
If you have problems getting your claim filed with insurance, talk with an accident attorney.
They will help you get the proper paperwork filed and get you the settlement you deserve.
Take the Right Steps After the Crash
Things can get hectic after the crash.
Make sure you keep calm and get everything done that you need to do.
When you give the police and insurance company everything you need, you will increase the chances of filing a successful claim greatly.
If you’re having problems resolving your accident case, you might need to bring in an expert to help.
Visit our blog to learn more about finding an attorney to handle your case.