How to Behave After a Car Crash?

Suffering a car crash is one of the worst, most stressful things that can happen to you. Nevertheless, when an accident occurs, you have to be level-headed and do everything in your power to protect your rights. This is especially true if you were the victim.

In the following section, we share a step-by-step guide that will explain what you have to do after suffering a vehicle accident. 

1.   Tend to Injured

The first and most important thing you have to do is contact the ambulance. “Even if the injuries aren’t severe, it’s best to call a medical expert,” warns Chopin Law Firm, a renowned car accident attorney. According to the company, this will allow the medical team to establish the extent of your injuries and connect them to the car crash.

As a result, you’ll be able to get total compensation later on. If one of the participants is severely injured, they shouldn’t make any moves before help arrives. Check on everybody around you, including the bystanders (parts of the vehicle might’ve hit them).

2.   Get to Safety

The next logical move is getting to safety. Although most drivers will slow down after witnessing a crash, there’s still a chance someone might hit you or graze you. Ideally, you should drive your car to the sidewalk so you don’t interfere with the traffic.

3.   Contact the Police

Depending on your state, you might be legally required to contact the police. Even if it’s a case of a minor bump, it’s better to call 911 and have them sorts out things.

When the police arrive at the scene, they will document everything and make a report. Alternatively, if they can’t reach you for whatever reason, you should head out to the nearest precinct. There, you’ll make the report yourself.

These reports are crucial for insurance agencies. When you make a claim, they will ask you for a copy to corroborate your part of the story. Otherwise, it will be hard to get proper compensation.

4.   Exchange Information

Once you contact the public services and check on participants, you have to exchange personal and insurance info with the person in the other car. Start by getting their name and contact info. License plate number is a big one as it will help you track the car. You should also remember how their vehicle looked like. Lastly, get their insurance policy number.

The most important thing at this moment is not to be shy. Given that situation, you have full rights to ask for all this information as it’s relevant to the case. Avoid talking about the accident with the other person; you might say something that the other party will use against you.

Many people have a habit of apologizing in these situations, even if it’s not their fault. While this might be polite, it confirms culpability. Keep in mind that an adjuster will assess the situation based on the provided evidence and report to decide who was responsible for the crash.

5.   Create Evidence

Many accidents occur away from the public eye. For example, you might’ve had a crash in a residential area with a limited number of surrounding cameras. Or you might’ve had a highway accident. Because of that, it’s vital that you take matters into your own hands.

After going through the first fundamental steps, take photos of the scene. Cover all the vehicle angles, not just the part that got damaged. Do the same with the other car. Making a video might be an even better option.

Chat up witnesses and get their contact information; they will be vital for your case. It’s also recommended that you pencil down the badge numbers of the police officers.

6.   Contact Insurance Company

Although you don’t necessarily have to contact the insurance company right away, it might help with a few things. For example, if your car is damaged, the insurance agency can contact a certified provider to arrange towing.

However, this part comes with a caveat. If you suffered an injury, especially a head injury, you might want to be careful when contacting the agency. Like many other businesses, they record all the calls, so you don’t want to say something that goes against you.

Then again, if you call straight away, you might give them a few details you will forget later on. This is definitely something that will help your case and ensure higher compensation.

7.   Contact DMV

In some cases, you might also want to contact DMV. Each state has a particular set of rules that shows you whether or not you should contact their office. For example, you might need to contact DMV if the damage was too severe or if someone was injured. Learn more about the local legislation to see whether or not you should reach out to them.

Conclusion

Every driver should learn about these rules. They not only ensure the safety of everyone involved, but they also help you get the compensation you need. More importantly, by collecting the evidence and avoiding long talks, you prevent the other side from making a case against you.