Steps to Take After Getting in a Car Accident

Car accidents are more common than you think and can happen for various reasons. If you’re a new driver, you must pay attention to your surroundings and learn to drive well before you hit the road. However, taking all sorts of precautions doesn’t guarantee that you’ll never get into a car accident. It can also happen due to the other vehicle driver. In such cases, you can always claim compensation for your loss. On the other hand, if you believe someone hit your car as an assault and meant to cause you harm, you can choose a victim lawyer and press charges against them.

“Under Florida’s premises liability laws, a property owner may be liable for injuries that occur on their property due to unsafe conditions,” says a representative of Victim Advocate (victimadvocate.com), a law firm specializing in violent crime compensation.

So, what can you do if you get into a car accident? Whether it happened due to your fault or someone else’s, you should follow a few steps to handle the situation, and later resume your life. We have listed the steps below. Let’s take a look.

Check for injuries

The first thing to do after recovering from the shock of the accident is to check for injuries. Check for bleeding first. You might not feel any pain due to the adrenaline rush. But you will gradually begin to feel pain in body parts affected by the accident.

Check to see if you broke a bone anywhere. Feel your skull, neck, and back to ensure they’re okay.

After that, check on your passengers to ensure that they’re not severely injured. You might have to administer first aid based on the type of injury. While injuries like broken bones can wait for some time, bleeding must be stopped immediately. Try wetting a cloth and pressing it against the wound to prevent bleeding.

Get to safety

The next step to take is to get to safety. Walk out of your car carefully. If you’re in the middle of the road, leave the car and walk to the pavement. If you have passengers with you, bring them out and take them to safety.

Try to remove your car from the center of the road as it can get hit by another moving car and cause an even bigger commotion. However, if you’re unable to drive or your car is not functioning anymore, leave it where it is. Take help from the traffic controller to alert the incoming traffic about the accident.

Call for help

Once you’re in a safe space, call 911 or the equivalent emergency number in your country immediately. Inform them about your situation and mention the exact location for sending help. After making the call, wait for your help to arrive. If you or your passenger is in bad shape, this might be a good time to take a closer look at their injuries and provide any emergency first aid – if they require any.

You can also inform your family about the accident. However, refrain from this step if you’re worrying about spreading unnecessary fear over nothing.

Get information from the parties involved

Speak to the owner of the other vehicle involved in the accident, and collect their information. According to the Insurance Information Institute (or III), you must take the following information from the other driver: their full name and contact information, the name of their insurance company and their policy, details on their driver’s license, their license plate number, model and color of their vehicle, and the accident location.

All these details will come into use when you claim compensation. However, don’t discuss whose fault it was when you exchange information. When you claim compensation, the adjuster will assess these details along with the condition of the vehicles to announce who might be at fault. Until then, refrain from making any comments or taking the blame on yourself.

Record details of the accident

Along with taking details from the other vehicle owner, it’s also wise to record as many details of the accident as possible. Begin by taking pictures of your vehicle from all angles, and make sure that the pictures clearly show the level of damage. Take a picture of the other vehicle’s license plate, too. Present them to your lawyer when claiming compensation.

Write down the names of all people involved in the accident. Also, talk to any witness and write down their names as well. Collect the names of the policemen on duty, and note down their names as well. If possible, collect a copy of your accident report from them to present to your lawyer.

Claim insurance and compensation for damages

Present all evidence and documents to your car insurance company to claim the insurance. Find a good personal injury lawyer or a violent crime lawyer and claim compensation. The compensation amount can vary depending on the type and nature of the case. Send every possible detail to your lawyer to decide on an amount and then press charges. The type and amount will depend on the person responsible and their intent.

Don’t accept the first offer they extend to you. Always discuss with your lawyer before going ahead with the offer.

Accidents always come unannounced, but it’s safer to be prepared than to be sorry later on. No matter how you got into the accident, you must ensure that you and your passengers are safe. Hiring a lawyer can help you settle the case quickly and claim the compensation without much hassle. Even though the psychological impact of such accidents is monumental, wrapping everything up gives you the chance to leave the incident behind and return to your life as soon as possible.