Accidents on the road are more common than we think. According to statistics, around two million car accidents occur every year in the United States alone. That’s a big number and it doesn’t only involve cars crashing into each other. Traffic accidents resulting from reckless driving, speeding, drug use, road rage, distractions from cellphones, or any type of impairment also add up to that number every year. After being in a car accident, many people don’t know what to do next. Being in a traffic accident is always scary, especially when it’s your fault. So what should you do?
Know your rights first of all
Before anything else, remember that you have rights to the person who was recently involved in a car accident. You have the right to ask the police what caused the accident if you were hurt. You also have the right to ask for medical attention immediately since there’s a chance of sustaining injuries during the accident. Learning about the procedures that happen when people experience a crash on the road can be found on this podcast https://www.ckflaw.com/after-the-crash-podcast/. It discusses different cases, victims, and procedures with the top experts in the industry for people that need advice on the matter.
After the accident
The first thing to do is to check yourself. If you’re injured, then call 911 or ask someone else to help you. You should also contact your insurance company immediately so they can assist you in dealing with all the trouble that comes along with it. Next is to find out if everyone involved in the accident is okay. If you or someone else is hurt, then make sure to ask for medical assistance immediately.
Damaged property
If no one was injured in the car accident, then you should find out if anyone’s property was damaged. These individuals will be able to provide this information so it can be added to your insurance company later on before filing a claim. If it’s your car, then you have to file a report with the police so you can get an official record of what happened.
Give information to all parties involved
In instances where someone’s been injured or their property is damaged, you have to provide your information to the other party involved. You can do this by writing down these details on a piece of paper and handing it to them as well as giving them one of your business cards as proof of who you are then asking for theirs too. You should also find out if the person you’re talking to is okay and ask them if they need medical assistance. If they don’t, then ask them to write down their personal information like name, address, phone number, driver’s license number, policy details of the car they were driving at the time of the accident so you can add it to your claim.
Making a police report
If the other driver involved in the accident is acting like they don’t want to give you their information or if you feel like something fishy is going on, then make sure to file a report with the police. An officer will be able to provide both of you with more personal details and get each other’s contact information. Most importantly, a police report will help protect your rights as a victim of a car accident.
Accident claims
Contacting the other driver’s insurance company is also something you should do. If they’re not willing to give their policy information or don’t want you to file an insurance claim, then ask them why and if they can provide proof of what happened. If you don’t receive any proof and the other driver is not willing to help you, then contact your own auto insurance company as well as your insurer so that it’ll be easier for them to assist you with all the paperwork and trouble that comes along with accidents on the road.
Finding out who was at fault
After getting the contact information of the other party involved, you have to talk to your own insurance company about filing an accident claim. Keep in mind that if the police report says it’s your fault, then make sure to find out what exactly happened so you can learn how to avoid similar accidents in the future. Maybe there was some sort of distraction that caused the accident or maybe you weren’t paying attention when your wheel slipped off a curb and hit a pothole, but in any case, you should be more careful in the future. It’s also best to have a record of all these details so you can provide it to your insurance company before filing an official claim to be involved in future accidents less often.
Despite all the stress and frustration, make sure to stay calm after an accident. As much as possible, avoid raising your voice or responding in a negative way to what other driver is saying especially if they’re blaming you for the whole thing. Try to keep your cool because it’ll give you plenty of time to look for witnesses and record as many details as you can remember about what happened before, during, and after the accident.