Nobody wants to be involved in a car accident. Not only is the situation mentally jarring, but accidents can result in damages to the vehicle, physical injuries and even death.
According to EverQuote, Americans spend 293 hours driving about 10,900 miles each year, leaving ample room for potential crashes. In fact, a recent report in the Tampa Bay Times discussed that Interstate 4, which stretches from Tampa to Daytona Beach, is the most dangerous highway in the country.
In the unfortunate event of an accident, clients should know how to proceed. The situation can be filled with adrenaline and confusion, but knowing how to respond can help protect everyone involved in the incident.
First, is everyone safe? Once you’re sure that you and your passengers are safe, check on the driver and passengers in the other vehicle(s). After that, here are the next five steps you should take following an auto accident.
Call The Police
Those involved in an accident should contact law enforcement, especially if anyone has been hurt, to report the extent of their injuries. The police will then notify the nearest medical unit and send for help.
If the police cannot arrive on the scene, if possible, drivers can also head to the nearest police department (or their website) to file an incident report. Filing an official report can be helpful, especially if the other driver decides to sue for damages or medical injuries, or if there is more damage to the vehicle that initially thought.
If the police do arrive on the scene, those involved in the accident should be sure to get the officers’ names and badge numbers, and should inquire as to where they can receive a copy of the incident report.
Take Pictures
It is a good idea to keep a camera in your car. With the advent of picture phones, it is not unusual for several people in any group to have a camera already in their hand when an accident occurs. Taking pictures and locating witnesses who took their own pictures can help you galvanize the case in your favor if it should end up on a court docket.
Keep in mind that the third-party pictures taken by witnesses could be especially helpful as they provide an unbiased account from a random perspective.
Contact Your Insurance Company
Your local Venice insurance company is there to help, but they will need some important information to get started. So when you call your insurance company, here are the items you will want to have ready:
- Date & Time of the Accident
- The Facts – What actually happened
- The Damage
- Names & Contact Info of the other parties
- Police Report
See a Doctor (If Needed)
Even if you were only in a low-speed collision in which neither car was significantly damaged, that doesn’t mean you don’t need to worry about injuries. In side impact collisions, you can hit your head on the door frame or the window, and you may not even realize it happened. A rear-impact collision can cause sudden and violent torsion to your head and neck. Any blow to the head or trauma to the upper spine can be serious, especially when caused by a car accident, when you may not have time to brace yourself for impact. Bottom line: If you don’t feel right after a car accident, get yourself checked out.
Keep Records
State laws vary as to how much information you’re expected to give at an accident scene. Generally, you need to provide only your name and your insurance information to any other drivers involved.
What’s most important is that you keep that information safe, and readily available following an accident, should you need to access the info quickly.
Some car insurance companies offer free smartphone apps to their customers that help document the details and scene of the crash.
Conclusion
After an accident, the most important issue is your safety and the safety of others involved. Once you’ve established this, getting through the next few days/weeks becomes the priority. Hopefully these steps will help to ease the frustration following an accident and needing to deal with your auto insurance coverage.
