You can do many things to reduce your risk of getting into a car accident, but even your best efforts may fail. If you find yourself in a car accident, it’s good to have a good idea of what to do next. Taking the right steps can help you immensely if an insurance claim needs to be made. The checklist below will give you some guidelines on what you should do if you encounter an accident. Consider printing out a copy and keeping it with you for reference.
1.Stop
The first thing you should when you are involved in an accident is to stop. This happens to be a legal obligation. Even if you don’t think any damage has been done, don’t think you are completely safe. You have to stop the car right then and there.
2. Don’t take responsibility
Never take responsibility for what has happened. It would help if you never assumed that it was your fault. If you expect the insurance guys to manage the claim, you could let them do all the talking.
3. Call the police
The next thing you can do is call the police. The officers who take your call will file a report and document what has happened. If the police cannot come to the accident scene, you can go to the police station and create an incident report. When you file your claims with the insurer, you could be asked for a copy of the report. In case of roadside burns, a burn injury lawsuitcanalsobefiled.
4. Exchange some information
After checking whether anyone is injured or not, exchange information. This includes contact information with others who are involved. Some important things you should try to get after an accident include:
- The full name and phone number
- The policy number
- The license plate & policy number
- The type, model of vehicle & color
- The location of the accident
5. The insurer must be notified
Consider speaking to an insurance agent when you are at the scene of the accident. In that way, you will know what they require and what you should expect during the process. Car accidents often leave people frazzled. But following these few steps may prevent you from worrying.
Remember, when you are at the accident scene and don’t know anything about the person you are currently dealing with or don’t know what insurance they have, stick to all the facts you know. This will help you protect yourself and strengthen any insurance claims you may have to file. If you want to know more, you can check more blog posts on our website.
