Dial 911 if you are hit or ask someone else to do so. Try not to move and wait for the ambulance staff if you are in critical condition.
2. Check the passengers’ well-being.
Check on the passengers in your vehicle if you are able to do so. Call the 911 if anyone is injured, or ask a bystander to do so for you.
If it is safe to do so, move your car to the side of the road to avoid any further danger. Wait for assistance.
4. 911 call.
If a minor fender or a significant collision is deemed to be an accident, a 911 call is crucial – which is constitutionally necessary in some jurisdictions. In the crash report, the accountable officers will fill in and record the scene. If the officers cannot come to the crash scene, you can go to the closest police station and, fill out the paperwork yourself. When you make an insurance claim, they will ask for a copy of the police report to assist in the payout process.
Switch the engine down, turn the emergency lights on to warn other drivers to slow down.
Exchange details and insurance records with another driver after making sure that you and all passengers are unharmed. Here is the most relevant knowledge that drivers can share after an accident:
– Complete name and contact details
– Insurance policy number and insurance provider
– Driver’s license and number of license plates
– Year, make and model of the vehicle
– The place of the accident
– When talking over details with another driver, we advise that you stop mentioning failures.
– When you file your claim, the adjuster reviewing the claim will decide who is at fault. This depends on the property damage of the cars involved, the evidence submitted by you and all people involved in the crash and other supporting documents, such as an incident report or photos of the scene.
We recommend taking the following steps in order to protect yourself:
– Pinpoint the officers.
– Take the name and number of the badges of the responsible police officers when the police arrive.
– Grab a copy.
– Ask the police officers present where a copy of the accident report can be obtained. When you are opening a claim, the insurer may request a copy of the report.
– Take photos: Trace the crash thoroughly by taking photos of the vehicles from all angles, displaying the harm done to all vehicles. Taking pictures of the license plates of the other vehicles involved in the car accident, may be a smart idea, too. During the claim process, you will be able to exchange pictures with your insurer to better validate your claim. – Write down the names and addresses, and all people in the other car, of all persons involved.
– Obtain inforamiton about any potential witnesses that were present during the car accident.
8. Alert and launch the claim process with your insurer.
If you are at the scene, you may want to contact your insurance company and report the accident. You will be asked to give a recorded statement, and therefore anything you say during that recorded statement can be used against you. As they say, “honesty is the best policy!” However, often times, when under a shock of a traumatic experience, such as a car accident, we often say things that may not necessarily be true.
But those things can nonetheless be used against our interests. This is why it best to leave these matters in the hands of people who are trained and experienced in making sure you protect your rights and interests. We strongly recommend to CONTACT US.
