Have you ever been in a car accident, but weren’t sure what to do? Car accidents happen every day and most people are at a loss for what the post-accident process should look like. Instead of guessing, study up on what steps you should take after being in a car accident. Whether it was your fault or not, there is “housework” to be done to ensure everything is taken care of.
Stay calm
The first step in any car accident is to stay calm. Assuming this is a small car accident and no medical help is needed, always stay calm. Don’t panic! Things will go smoother if you can keep yourself in check. Although it’s common for victims of car accidents to panic, you can practice breathing techniques to help you stay calm.
Call the authorities
Most car accidents require you to call the police. The police will come out to write out an accident report and to figure out what happened. You don’t need to call 911 – unless it’s a life-threatening emergency and someone is hurt. You do need to call the non-emergency line for your local police department. You need to have some patience as they get a police officer out to you.
Exchange car insurance information
To make a claim, you will need to know information of the other driver. Sometimes you get this from the police report. For minor car accidents, you may be responsible for collecting this information. Either way, exchanging car insurance information is a common practice for car accidents. You’ll want to make sure you have all of this information before calling a car accident lawyer.
Call a car accident lawyer
Depending on the type of car accident you’re in, you may want to contact a car accident lawyer. A lawyer like this can help you in many scenarios. If the person you got into a car accident with doesn’t have insurance, if you’re hurt, or damages have been done – contacting a lawyer that can help you is important. Talking to someone who is experienced in car accidents is invaluable.
If it looks like your car may be totaled, you still may be able to get some money for it. Look into sites such as We Buy Totaled Cars which is a quick and easy process to help you in taking care of your car after an accident.
Make sure you’re safe
If you have been in a car accident and aren’t sure what to do, make sure you are safe. Normally you aren’t supposed to move your vehicle, but if you’re holding up traffic, a police officer may ask you to move.
Knowing what to do after a car accident is invaluable. When you know what to do, you may feel less panic and more like taking action. Do you have any tips for someone who has been in a car accident?
Sara Zielinski says
These are important tips for what to do after a car accident.
Janet W. says
This really is great information to keep in mind. Easy thing to do is panic but you have to keep these things in mind!
Julie Wood says
These are very good tips on what to do after a car accident. Make not to say that you are at fault. And take pictures of the accident scene or moving videos for evidence!
shelly peterson says
I have never been in a car accident thankfully. thanks for haring this great information!