At some point in your driving lives you will most probably be involved in a car accident, whether it be a major or minor accident it will happen and are you 100% prepared?
If you are then great, if not then maybe you should read these 8 steps to take straight after a car accident.
When involved in a car crash you must try to keep a clear, don’t panic and stay calm.
Pull over: If you can, pull your vehicle over to the side of the road. Turn on your hazard lights and set up emergency cones or triangles so other drivers can see you.
Check for injuries: Check to see if you or your passengers sustained injuries from the car accident. If anyone is injured – however minor – call emergency services and request an ambulance right away.
Tip You should consider keeping a first aid kit in your car to help you after an auto accident.
Call the police: Always call the police to report the car accident. Stay at the scene of the accident until a law enforcement officer has taken down your statement, and be sure to record the name of the officer that took the report.
Exchange information: Exchange information with the driver or drivers of the other vehicles involved in the accident. Be sure to get the his or her name, address, phone number, license plate number, driver’s license number, vehicle identification number (VIN), insurance company name, and policy number. You may also want to record the make, model and year of the vehicle.
Don’t admit fault: After a car accident, it’s important to remember not to admit fault to the other driver or discuss the details of the accident. You should only discuss this information with the police and your insurance company. Your insurance company will use information gathered from all parties to determine the cause of the accident.
Find witnesses: If possible, find witnesses to the accident and get their name and contact information. The police will take witness statements to help them get a clear picture of what happened.
Document the accident: Take notes on any details you can remember right after an auto accident like the time of day and weather – such information may be difficult to recall later. Also, be sure to take pictures of the accident site with your cell phone or camera, including both vehicles and the damage sustained. When taking pictures, capture license plate numbers of any vehicles involved too.
Contact your insurance company: The next thing you need to do is report the car accident to your insurance company, regardless of whether it was a fender bender or something more serious. Depending on the amount of damage, you may decide to pay for repairs out-of-pocket. However, you still need to call your insurance company to give them your account of what happened, which is especially helpful if the other party involved is dishonest.
If you find these
tips useful then consider writing them down and keeping the list in your vehicle so that when an accident does occur you will be prepared for the situation.
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