Have your camera charged and be ready to submit a police complaint no matter what happens. Ideally, following a vehicle collision, you and the other driver may exchange information peacefully and then go your way. Afterward, you report the incident to the authorities or get a copy of the report made by those who responded. However, accidents are inherently unpredictable, so maybe their aftermath. In an accident, calling the police is recommended; however, if no one was hurt and little property was damaged, the police may choose not to attend.
Check For Injuries
Perform a visual injury check on everyone in the car, including yourself. If someone was wounded, either in your car or in the other cars, you should call 911 or have someone else do so. If you've been gravely hurt, stay still until medical assistance arrives.
Get Your Car And Yourself Out Of Harm's Way
Moving your car to the side of the road is a good idea if the crash was small and no one was hurt. To warn other drivers to slow down, set out flares and reflective emergency triangles and put on your warning lights. If there was a serious crash or someone was hurt, don't move the vehicles. Even if you don't feel wounded, it's best to take it slow and careful while getting out of the car, especially if the accident happened on a highway or busy street. Your lack of logic might be putting your life in jeopardy.
Inform The Police
It's necessary to call the police, but Luna warns that they may not show up to a little accident, depending on where you live. As an alternative to sending officers to the site of an accident, "some police agencies are switching to online reporting," he explains. Take down the name, badge number, as well as contact information of both police officers if they show up. Obtain a duplicate of the police report detailing the incident. You may get a copy of the investigation report from the police station or the insurance company handling your claim if they still need to show up.
Gather Essential Information
Get the name, location, phone number, and driver's license number of everyone in the collision by taking images using your phone's camera or writing it down. Find out the driver's connection to the car's owner if their name doesn't appear on the registration and insurance. Next, compile data about the car, including its year, make, model, color, license plate number, and VIN. Luna recommends getting the other driver's insurance information if they don't report the collision. Check to see if any potential eyewitnesses would be willing to share their contact information and accounts of what they saw with you. Don't let anybody know your SSN, insurance policy maximums, or other sensitive information.
Photograph The Scene
Luna recommends utilizing your smartphone's camera, video, and voice memo functions to record as much information as possible regarding the accident. Was the automobile hit at the front, the driver's side, or the back? Taking images of the complete vehicle as well as close-ups of the damages to both vehicles would help immensely with this. Document the time and date of the incident, and take pictures or a video of the accident area, including any skid marks or damaged property. Take down the names of the streets involved and the directions each car traveled in just before and after the collision. The proximity of vehicles to the road should be considered. The adjuster will need this information to reconstruct what happened when filing a claim. Therefore Luna emphasizes its importance. Make a rough drawing of the wreckage. They are making use of the phone's voice memo feature.
If Necessary, Contact A Tow Truck
Luna cautions that if the damage is severe, you may need to have the car towed to a repair facility. A frequent benefit of vehicle clubs is access to emergency roadside assistance. The police might get in touch with a towing company, and some car companies even provide roadside assistance applications. Luna suggests that before relying on an unexpectedly coming tow truck, you should learn as much as possible about the company and its credentials.
Conclusion
Over ten million vehicles but instead light truck accidents take place every year in the United States. Even a slight mishap might leave you feeling shaken, so it helps to be prepared for what to do afterward. When an accident occurs, the first step is to ensure the safety of everyone at the site. There's a good chance you'll never be in a vehicle accident, but these seven steps will be helpful if you are. If you've ever been in a vehicle crash, you know how unsettling it may be not to know what to do in the immediate aftermath. The purpose of auto insurance is to safeguard your financial well-being in the event of an accident. After an accident, you should check for injuries and move your vehicle out of traffic as soon as possible.
