It doesn’t matter how often you’re behind the wheel of your car, there is always a risk of getting into an accident. Nobody wants to get into an accident, but often you’ll find that a lot of other people on the road can’t drive. Accidents happen, and regardless of how safe you are, it’s a scary experience that can last for a while if you end up with PTSD.
The thing is, there is plenty that you could do to stay alert and calm and well armed so that you can make the right claim for a car crash before the car towing even occurs. You don’t deserve to have any long term suffering after an accident, especially when the accident was not your fault. Take these 10 steps after a car accident and make sure that you make your claim.
What To Do After A Car Accident
1. Stop Your Car In A Safe Area
If you’ve been involved in an accident and your car is still movable, the first thing to do is to stop if the impact hasn’t done that to you already. Move your car to the side of the road with your hazard lights on to warn other drivers. You don’t want to block the flow of traffic if you can help it.
Get out of your vehicle and move to a safe place and remove any dangerous items from the road if you can. Don’t do that if the cars are still flowing fast in traffic, however.
2. Check Your Passengers And Those In The Opposing Car
You need to make sure that there are no people who are hurt after the accident. Call an ambulance immediately if anybody is seriously injured and call the police straight away.
Make sure you check on the other drivers, even if you’re not the one at fault, their passengers and any pedestrians who could have been involved. If you can, and if you are able, administer any first aid until help arrives.
3. Call The Emergency Services
If someone is hurt, they’ll need an ambulance. And if you want to make a claim on your insurance, you’re going to need a police number, especially if you’re not the person at fault. It’s important that you call the police and speak to them about the incident to see if they can send somebody over to document it.
If any property has been damaged or the owner of the other vehicle refuses to give their personal details, you need to make sure that you have the police on hand. Major accidents where somebody was injured or killed or where the details of both parties have not been exchanged need police intervention.
4. Take Down The Opposing Car Accident Details
While car accidents are stressful, it’s important that you try not to lose focus. Swapping details with the other party includes taking note of their name, address, phone number, registration plate, car model, drivers license number, and insurance information if you can.
Make sure that you get the details of the accident down in your mind before you forget. You could voice note it into your phone or record it with a text message.
5. Take Photos If You’re Able To
If you are mobile after the accident or your passengers are mobile, get them to take photos of the incident if you can. This should include your vehicle and the other vehicles with the registration plates showing. Take photos of the whole situation from plenty of angles and even any debris on the road.
It’s important that you do this so that you can ensure that you have evidence of the accident taking place. If you have a front or rear dash Cam, make sure you pull the footage for that too.
Hand this evidence over to a specialist attorney who will know how to organize it effectively to strengthen your case. Victims of crashes caused by rideshare drivers need to find the top rated Uber or Lyft accident lawyer in their area to ensure their rights are protected and that they receive fair compensation for their injuries and damages. An experienced lawyer can handle communication with insurance companies, gather witness statements, and navigate the complex legal procedures involved. Having professional representation greatly increases the chances of achieving a successful outcome in your claim.
6. Seek Any Help From Witnesses
It’s a good idea to ask for contact information of anybody who may have witnessed the crash. Witness statements can be helpful if the other party disputes your account of how an accident happened or who was at fault for it.
You want to be as simple as you can for the police and your insurance provider to understand what happened and to close off the claim as quickly as possible. The more they are armed with information, the faster the claim will be paid out.
7. Grab Your Belongings From The Car And Arrange A Tow Truck
You’ll need to arrange a tow truck from your vehicle if your car cannot move. This is a process that can be done yourself, or you can request a tow truck from your insurer, especially if you’re covered this way.
Remove any valuables from the vehicle before the towing load so that you don’t end up with things going missing. When it comes to accident car towing services, there are laws out there that protect your rights, so make sure that you are following those laws.
8. Never Admit Fault
Even if you think you are responsible for the car crash, don’t admit that on the scene of the accident to others. You should report the crash to your insurer and let them guide you through the process. They’ll be able to assess the accident and decide if you really were at fault, and it’s as simple as that.
9. Get Your Claim Activated As Soon As You Can
If you have comprehensive car insurance or third party insurance outside your CTP, you should call the provider as soon as you can. The sooner they know about the crash, the sooner they can process your claim and get your car roadworthy again.
10. Review Your Current Car Insurance Cover
You should also review your current car insurance cover. Although this one isn’t an immediate thing to do, and it doesn’t have to be connected to an accident, but it pays to be on top of your car insurance.
Know what you’re covered for, and know whether or not you are going to be out of pocket the next time there’s an accident. If you don’t have towing coverage right now, for example, make sure you have it ready just in case another accident occurs.
Thanks for stopping by!
Magda
xoxo