Going through an auto accident is a very stressful moment, and if the injuries are not too severe, there are certain steps you would need to undertake in order to stay safe and make sure that everyone around you is safe as well. In addition, you need to execute all of these steps properly so you can follow the law and get the insurance claims started. According to the insurance institute, following these steps will help you guide yourself throughout the accident and make all the important decisions in this regard. Here are a couple of things you should keep in mind in the event of an auto accident.
You Must Check Yourself for the Injuries
First and foremost, you need to check yourself for injuries. Even though you do not feel some serious injuries, you should call 911 and an ambulance and report the accident. It may occur to you that this is unnecessary. However, having a medical report and records of injuries can help you a lot when it comes to insurance claims. On the other hand, some injuries have the tendency to show quite late, such as certain concussions, bruises, etc. If you do not perceive these as serious injuries, you will not have a chance to gain some advantage. So, once you go through an accident, you should contact emergency services and try not to move since it can have even worse results for your health.
Call the Police
Regardless of the size of the accident, you need to call the police. If it is a minor accident or just a simple collision, it does not mean that you should not call the police. In some states, it is even legally required to call 911 and report an auto accident. In addition, you must be wise and think of the approaching insurance claims and think of how huge of a deal these reports are. First things first, the officers will fill out the reports and documents about the scene and the accident. Even though it is a very rare case, sometimes officers cannot respond to the accident scene. In this scenario, you should go to the nearest police station and fill in the report on your own. Here comes the most important part, once you fill in the insurance claim, your insurer may request you a copy of the police report, which can considerably help you to go through the process.
If You Are Not in the Car Alone, Check the Well-Being of the Passengers As Well
If you are not too hurt to move or not hurt at all, you should check on the other passengers in the car as well. In case someone is injured, then you should try not to move them and instantly contact emergency services or have someone do so. It is of the utmost importance not to move injured passengers since you can end up hurting them even more. Also, if you notice some life-threatening injuries such as excessive bleeding, you need to press on the injury and prevent it from bleeding out. Additionally, if any of the passengers is unconscious, do not try to wake them up by shaking them. Some unconscious states are caused by severe head and brain injuries, hence, moving the injured abruptly, in these situations, can be fatal.
Exchange Information
After you make sure that everyone is fine and none of the passengers is severely injured, you should exchange some of the basic information with the driver of the other vehicle. According to the law, there is some information every driver needs to exchange once an accident happens. These include full name and surname, policy number, the insurance company, model, type, and color of the vehicle, license plate number, as well as the driver’s license number. Do not forget to note down the exact location of the accident as well; it can play a huge part when making insurance claims. A very useful piece of advice is to limit communication with the other driver as much as possible. Whatever you say, especially when it comes to discussing the fault, can be used against you if the case is brought to court.
Going through an accident is probably one of the most stressful events you can go through. However, even in these moments, you should not lose your cool and you should be very careful when it comes to procedure. If you are not too injured, you should take certain steps, such as obtaining information about the other driver. Otherwise, if you feel even the slightest dizziness, you should not move until the emergency comes.