What should you do after an auto accident?
You may consider yourself a safe driver, but you never know when another driver may hit you. No matter if you suffer major or minor damage, would you know how to react after a car accident?
AARP offers steps to take after motor vehicle accidents. Refresh your memory or learn the proper procedure for responding to a collision.
Check for damage
Immediately after the accident, check everyone for injuries, calling an ambulance for anyone who needs it. For minor accidents, move the vehicles to the side of the road out of traffic, and turn your hazard lights on. A major accident may make it difficult to move your car, so do not worry about it.
Call the police
A police report may prove essential if you have a personal injury case and for your insurance claim. Call them to the scene of the accident. Besides getting a copy of the report, note the officer’s badge number, name and contact information.
Gather details
While waiting for the police, get the names, contact information, driver’s license numbers and insurance information of everyone involved in the accident, even passengers. Snap pictures of all vehicle and property damage, note the weather at the time of the accident and take images of nearby street signs and names. Ask witnesses for their statements, and record details about all the cars involved in the collision, such as the make and model.
Say nothing
Aside from checking others for injury, say nothing at the scene of the accident. You do not want to admit fault or say something that may harm your insurance claim or injury case.
You must know what actions to take and which to reconsider immediately after a car accident. Hopefully, you now feel better prepared to handle an unfortunate situation.
