It’s crucial to realize that even though an automobile accident may appear to be a small incident at the moment, an injury may nonetheless manifest itself later on. Don’t assume everything is great just because you’re feeling good right now.
To know what to do following a small auto accident, follow these instructions. Any car crash should be regarded seriously, even those that don’t appear to be severe collisions. Immediately following the occurrence, every driver and passenger, if appropriate, should take a number of actions. Be sure to adhere to the advice provided below if you have been in any kind of car accident.
1. Scan for wounds
Even while not all injuries are obvious right away, taking the necessary care for such injuries is crucial and should be taken care of right away if you do discover a clear and immediate damage. At the scene of the collision, medical help should be sought if there are any visible injuries. By dialing 911, the necessary assistance can be quickly requested. Keep an eye out for any health changes over time as well. This is because internal injuries may take longer to manifest because of the first crash’s adrenaline and panic, which may numb or dull internal damage.
2. Immediately after the car accident, take pictures or videos of it.
Taking pictures of the cars at the crash scene as soon as possible after the accident can be a crucial piece of evidence later used to determine fault after any immediate injuries have been evaluated. Take numerous pictures or videos of the two vehicles, as well as the roadway and its surroundings.
3. When feasible, remove vehicles off the road
If your car is still running, move it off the road or highway so that traffic can continue to proceed. Pull off as far as you can in a safe manner if there is a shoulder available. Better yet, if there is a handicapped parking space, this would be the best location to keep the streets clear of disabled vehicles and avoid further harm from oncoming traffic.
4. Contact the police to report the accident
No matter how trivial it may seem, call the appropriate law enforcement authorities regardless of what the other motorist advises or demands. You can call 9-1-1 at any moment after an automobile collision, even if it’s not an emergency, to have a police officer sent to the scene.
Inform the dispatcher that there didn’t seem to be any injuries after your minor mishap. In this way, they are aware that they simply need to send a police officer to the location to file an accident report and not to also dial an ambulance. Never consent to confidentiality agreements, and never accept money in exchange for releasing it. Protecting your legal rights is essential for both insurance and private reasons. Similar to other insurance policies, yours typically won’t pay for losses in the absence of a formal accident report.
5. Avoid assuming responsibility for the collision.
While you should never point the finger of blame at the other motorist, you also shouldn’t apologize for the collision because doing so suggests that you accept responsibility. While you wait for the appropriate authorities to arrive, remain composed and polite. Knowing what to do after a small auto accident entails understanding that you never, under any circumstances, acknowledge fault, even if you feel somewhat at fault. Our inherent empathy may lead us to fabricate a story about the accident in our minds. Allow the policeman to reach his own conclusions and provide succinct, truthful responses to all inquiries.
6. Obtain contact and insurance details.
When you can after moving off the road, give the other driver your insurance information and your contact details. Maintain a professional tone and stay on subject. Make sure to obtain their name, address, a phone number where you can reach them, and the details of their insurance. Include the name of the business, its phone number, and the policy number. Ask for the passengers’ contact information as well, in case they need to make statements later. If there were passengers in the other car.
Stay at the scene of the accident until it is safe to leave.
No matter how trivial the situation seems to you, never leave an accident scene after law enforcement has been contacted. Leaving the scene is really against the law, therefore you should stay with your car unless your injuries are so severe that you need to be taken by ambulance to the hospital. In this situation, police will be able to reach you there.
8. Let your car insurer know
Call your own auto insurance company as soon as the first steps have been taken, and alert them of the collision. To protect yourself and any claims made against your carrier, you must contact your insurer right away, regardless of which motorist is deemed to be at-fault.
9. Speak with a knowledgeable auto accident attorney
It’s possible that you have injuries that take time to manifest. Once car repairs start, there could be more expensive damages than what first appears. These post-accident procedures are important, but the only way to ensure that your rights are upheld is to speak with a car accident lawyer.
When the initial shock of the accident has subsided, calling a lawyer who specializes in auto accidents can make a significant difference in the outcome of an insurance claim and what can be granted to you.
