If you get involved in a car accident, it’s important to quickly take the right steps to put yourself in the best possible position. You don’t want to make any mistakes that make your situation worse or overlook any crucial details.
At the same time, you may never have been involved in an accident before. To help you know what to do, some tips are listed below.
The next 7 steps you should take
Every accident is unique, but these are seven steps that you should generally take after a crash:
- Check to see if anyone has been injured.
- Contact the authorities to get medical assistance.
- Exchange insurance information and contact information with the other driver.
- Take pictures of the accident scene.
- Take pictures of the damage to your vehicle and the other vehicle.
- Talk to witnesses and give your account to the police officer for the police report.
- Begin learning about your legal options.
Right after the crash, you also want to avoid leaving the scene. If your car isn’t heavily damaged, it may be possible to move it to the side of the road to get it out of traffic, but you always want to stay at the accident scene until the police tell you that you’re free to go. Leaving the scene could make you appear to have caused the accident when you really did not, and it may also be illegal.
After an injury
If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by another driver, then you need to know about all the legal options to seek financial compensation. You may deserve compensation for your medical bills, for instance, or for any wages that you lost out on if you missed time at work.
